In a world where companies are increasingly held accountable for their real environmental impact, tree planting stands out among other green initiatives. It is tangible, photogenic, verifiable and engaging – all at the same time. It doesn’t require a revolution in your business model or months of preparation. What it does require is a solid plan, the right partner and a spark of enthusiasm from your team.
Companies that decide to organize a tree planting campaign benefit on multiple fronts: they build the image of a responsible brand, engage employees in something meaningful, provide hard data for ESG reports and – equally importantly – make a real contribution to improving the state of the environment. That is a rare combination in the world of CSR activities.
This guide will walk you through the entire process – from the very first decision to the summary report – step by step.
Step 1: Define the Goal of Your Campaign and Anchor It in Your Company Strategy
The first question you should ask yourself is: why are we planting trees? This is not a rhetorical question – a clearly defined goal will determine how you plan the campaign, how you communicate it and how you measure its success.
The most common goals that companies pursue through tree planting include:
Carbon offsetting. A single tree absorbs between several and several dozen kilograms of CO₂ per year, depending on the species and growing conditions. Planting hundreds or thousands of trees represents a measurable contribution to neutralizing your company’s carbon footprint. This is something you can include in your environmental report with specific numbers.
Team integration and engagement. Shared physical work in the field affects team relationships in a way that no training session or team-building trip can replicate. A shovel in hand puts everyone on equal footing – the CEO and the intern, the finance department and the IT team. The shared effort and shared pride in having done something good create bonds that last.
Brand image building. A tree planting campaign is ready-made, authentic communication material – photographs, video footage, social media posts, press releases. Unlike many PR activities, it is hard to question: the tree is there, it grows and it absorbs CO₂.
Local community engagement. A company can invite residents, schools and local organizations to join the campaign – becoming the initiator of positive change in its own neighborhood.
Meeting ESG goals. In the context of growing regulatory requirements (the CSRD directive, EU Taxonomy, UN SDGs), tree planting provides measurable, reportable data in the environmental area.
Step 2: Find the Right Location
Choosing the right place is one of the most important decisions you will make. The location affects the ecological value of the campaign, the logistics, the communication and the long-term impact of the entire initiative.
The most popular options include degraded land requiring reclamation (post-industrial, post-flood, after clear-cutting), urban and suburban forests, company grounds around offices and production facilities, areas near schools and public institutions, and the banks of rivers and bodies of water.
When choosing a location, pay attention to several aspects:
Ownership and legal matters. Planting on public land requires the consent of the owner – the local municipality, the State Forests authority or the land manager. This can be time-consuming if you handle it on your own. It is worth having a partner who knows these processes and already has established relationships with the relevant institutions.
Ecological value of the site. Degraded land that needs support has far greater environmental value than adding a few trees to an already healthy forest. Choose places where your contribution really makes a difference.
Logistical accessibility. Can participants reach the location without difficulty? Is there a car park or the possibility of arriving by coach? Is water available nearby?
Long-term monitoring potential. Ideally, your company should be able to return to the site in subsequent years – observing the growth of the trees, documenting progress and building a living history of its commitment.
One More Tree specializes in organizing field campaigns and knows these challenges inside out. The tree planting campaign for companies carried out by our team is a comprehensive service – from selecting and agreeing on a location, through supplying the right seedlings, to full on-site support and a summary report with documentation.
Step 3: Choose Tree Species Thoughtfully
This is a point that many organizers overlook or treat as a detail – wrongly so. The choice of species is crucial for the survival rate of the seedlings and for the long-term ecological value of the planted forest or tree stand.
The basic rule: prioritize native species that are natural to the given region and habitat. In Poland, these include primarily the pedunculate and sessile oak, small – leaved and large – leaved lime, Norway maple and sycamore, common ash, silver birch, European beech, common hornbeam and black alder (especially near water). On dry, sandy soils, Scots pine and birch perform well; on moist, fertile ground – oaks, limes and ashes are the better choice.
Avoid species that are geographically foreign to the area, and especially invasive ones – such as black cherry, black locust or box elder maple. They may look attractive or be easy to grow, but in the Polish environment they disrupt ecosystems and displace native species.
On company grounds and near office buildings, fruit trees are worth considering – apple trees, pear trees, plum trees, cherry trees. They provide food for pollinators and birds, and employees are always happy to return to a place where they can pick an apple every autumn.
Step 4: Plan the Logistics Like a Professional Event
Tree planting is, in essence, an outdoor event – and it requires the same logistical approach. The list of things to plan is long, but every element matters.
Tools and equipment: Spades, shovels, protective gloves, watering cans, wheelbarrows. Check whether the terrain allows for manual work or whether mechanical equipment will be needed. Always bring more tools than you think you will need.
Seedlings: They must be delivered on time and stored correctly. The roots must not dry out. Container seedlings (in pots) are easier to handle; bare-root seedlings require faster planting and more careful transport. Always order with a surplus – a few percent of seedlings may be damaged or simply may not end up in the right spot.
Transport: Arrange shared transport – it is both convenient for participants and an additional integration opportunity, while also reducing the carbon footprint of the whole campaign. A coach or several vans is standard for groups of more than 30 people.
Catering and recovery: Several hours of physical work outdoors is a demanding challenge – especially for people who sit at a desk all day. A warm meal after the campaign, coffee and tea during breaks, fruit and snacks – these are elements that employees remember and appreciate.
Documentation: Assign a dedicated person (or a photography company) to handle documentation. Plan your shots in advance: group photos, close-up details (hands, roots, spades), portraits of participants, panoramic views of the site. This material will serve the company for years to come.
Safety: Go over the rules for safe tool use, make sure a first aid kit is on site and appoint a coordinator responsible for the group’s safety. This is particularly important when working in a forest or on uneven terrain.
The best time to plant trees is early spring (March–April) or autumn (October–November) – outside the peak growing season, when seedlings take root most easily.
Step 5: Communicate the Campaign Internally and Externally
A tree planting campaign is an investment that delivers its full return only when it is communicated well. Both internally – to build employee engagement and pride – and externally – to strengthen the company’s public image.
Internal communication before the campaign: Inform your team at least two to three weeks in advance. Explain the goal, the plan for the day and what people should bring with them. Build anticipation and a sense of shared purpose – a short teaser video, a tree counter on the intranet page for the campaign, a competition for the best photo from the event. People engage with something they have heard about in advance and with which they have had time to emotionally identify.
External communication after the campaign: A post on LinkedIn and other platforms with a photo report, a press release to local media, a blog entry on the company website (like this article!), a mention in the newsletter. Share specific numbers – how many trees, which species, where, how much CO₂ they will absorb. Specificity builds credibility.
If possible, mark the site with an information board bearing the company’s name and the date of the campaign. It is a simple but very effective communication tool and a powerful source of pride for employees.
Step 6: Report and Monitor Results
After the campaign, gather data for the report: number of trees planted, species, location, date, number of participants, estimated CO₂ absorption over 10, 20 and 50 years. If the partner carrying out the campaign (such as One More Tree) provides a certificate or official confirmation – that is a valuable document to include in your ESG report.
It is also worth planning a follow-up visit after 6 to 12 months: a visit to the campaign site, photographic documentation of tree growth and an update on seedling survival rates. This kind of action builds a narrative of continuity and authenticity that resonates with stakeholders.
Step 7: Build a Tradition, Not a One-Off Event
The most effective companies treat tree planting not as a one-time gesture but as an annual tradition. A campaign held on the occasion of Earth Day, the company’s anniversary or the end of the financial year becomes part of the organizational culture – something employees look forward to and identify with.
If you want to take a comprehensive approach and combine tree planting with educating your team, take a look at our offer of ecological workshops for companies – an excellent complement to any field campaign that deepens awareness and builds lasting changes in attitude.
Summary
A well-planned tree planting campaign is an initiative that brings multi-dimensional benefits to your company: environmental, reputational, team-building and reporting-related. It requires preparation, but it does not have to be complicated – especially when you have an experienced partner on your side to take care of the logistics. At One More Tree, this is what we do every day, and we know how to make your campaign not only environmentally valuable but also truly unforgettable for your entire team.
