In a world where the younger generations are becoming increasingly discerning and demanding more of the brands they shop with – particularly when it comes to their sustainability credentials – it’s clear that in 2022, there’s an appetite for doing the right thing, and with the climate change crisis raging on, the health of our planet is one of the key issues that is rightfully capturing our collective attention.
For some, simply being more selective about the brands they buy from doesn’t feel like enough, and as a society, we’re increasingly looking for ways to shoulder a little more of the responsibility ourselves. If reducing your carbon footprint has been on your mind, then you might be cutting back on flying and driving, and keeping your household energy consumption to a minimum – but with innovative and sustainable online platform Treedom, you can now go one better.
Founded in Florence, Italy in 2010, Treedom is the first platform of its kind in the world, and allows you to plant a tree from a distance in one of the globe’s far flung corners, following the journey of the project online from your sofa, sunlounger or anywhere else you happen to be. Treedom directly finances agroforestry projects with its users’ help in order to realise sustainable ecosystems and support thousands of farmers globally with the initial cost of replanting, which later down the line, will offer social and economical benefits including food autonomy and income opportunities to locals.
As the biggest plants on the planet, trees do more for us than many stop to think about, giving us vital oxygen, storing carbon and stabilising soil, as well as giving life to wildlife across the globe. But deforestation has become a major issue, and at a time when we need our trees more than ever to help mitigate climate change, as well as a means of restoring vital habitats, planting more is one of the best possible things we can do.
Over the past 12 years, Treedom has planted more than three million trees across developing countries in Africa, South America and Asia – each carefully chosen to ensure they are either native or respect the biodiversity in the region – and it’s a number that continues to grow. With the help of local farmers in each of the locations, members can now do their bit to bring environmental, social and financial benefits to their communities – and with over a million users and nearly ten thousand companies already on board, the long-term potential to make an impact is huge.
Treedom’s projects operate in the southern hemisphere, rather than well-developed Europe, despite having been founded there. Projects are currently underway in countries including Kenya, Tanzania, Nepal, Colombia, Guatemala and Haiti, to name but a few, and by focusing its efforts on developing countries like these, where trees are often a vital food resource, it has been able to have a greater positive impact upon local communities, planting fruit bearing trees and working to counteract soil erosion. By protecting the fertility of the soil, Treedom ensures that local communities will be able to continue reaping the benefits for many years to come.
Planting the seeds of a brighter and more sustainable future is a wonderful thing in itself, but Treedom doesn’t simply fund the projects and leave communities to it. Instead, it trains them and empowers them, getting them involved with the entire process and ensuring they are fully equipped and educated to support the growth of the trees during their first years of life.
So, where exactly do we come in?
Treedom offers three levels of membership – Rookie, Hero and Master – depending on how many trees you want to fund the planting of each year, with numbers ranging from 12-24. You simply choose from a selection of trees which are grown in one of your selected project’s nurseries, and when it’s big enough, a farmer will then plant it for you in this country and take care of it.
But that’s not all, because your tree – or trees – will also be photographed and geolocalised, as well as having its online page where you can follow and check in on its progress at regular intervals. You might be on the opposite side of the globe to where your CO2-absorbing tree is being planted, but as a Treedom member, you’ll feel involved every step of the way, right up until it starts bearing fruit.
If someone you know is environmentally conscious and you’d like to give them something meaningful – for a special occasion, or just because, you can even gift a tree to them through Treedom. Like you, they’ll be able to read a regular ‘Tree Diary’, keeping them in the loop about its progress, and watching it grow and flourish via its own online page. As gift ideas go, it’s pretty unique – if you’d like to dedicate a tree or plant a tree for a loved one, then you can do it all through the Treedom website.
