Question 1: Isn't planting trees just like a sales of indulgences - good conscience for cash?

We hear this criticism very often - and it is justified where planting trees increases climate-damaging consumption patters, according to the motto "I planted a tree, now I'll drive to the supermarket 50 metres away". Therefore, we say clearly that planting trees is only one lever of many in the fight against climate change. This in no way replaces a rethinking of consumption - everyone is still called upon to shape their own lives as green as possible. That is why we provide many useful tips for sustainable living in everyday life for you in our blog.

Of course, hardly anyone manages to live "perfectly". Moreover, we in the Global North have a historically much higher CO2 footprint than people from Africa or Latin America, for example. Unfortunately, a change in our own consumption behaviour is not enough to compensate for the damage we have already caused. Therefore, planting trees is a way for us to do something good right now on our way to CO2 neutrality and a globally fairer world. And this in countries where, in addition to the positive effect on the climate, poverty can also be reduced and future poverty-related deforestation of existing primeval forests can thus be counteracted.

Question 2: Shouldn't we rather ensure that existing forests are protected than plant new trees?

No question - the primeval forest must be protected and the planting of new trees does not justify cutting down existing forests! Fortunately, through our work, we can now create mixed forests whose permanent existence is assured. At the same time, by simultaneously planting agroforestry species, we manage to minimise the incentive to clear existing forests. By allowing smallholders to use the stock of new avocado or mango trees, for example, we counteract the main cause of illegal deforestation: Existential poverty. At the same time, the local communities learn how the topic of sustainability can be implemented in such a way that they also benefit from it and that climate protection and economic development are not opposites.

Question 3: Shouldn't you be a not-for-profit if you really just want to plant trees?

We believe that profit orientation ensures that more creative solutions are found, things run as efficiently as possible and are oriented towards growth. Therefore, we want to build a performance-oriented and competitive organisation that can best pursue our main goal: to plant as many trees as possible. To make tree planting as popular, easy and versatile as feasible, we invest in marketing, sales, software, technology and processes. This idea of innovation requires investments that we want to raise via our profit orientation. We believe that with this strategy we can ultimately plant more trees than pure non-profit organisations which are often dependent on donations. Your money does not end up in bureaucratic structures nor does it end up in exorbitant salaries. Instead, it goes into the expansion of our technology, offers, marketing & sales and thus fully into our mission to plant as many trees as possible. In addition, we have decided to donate 50% of all possible profits to sustainability research and reforestation.

We think that every non-profit organisation also has its role to play and that every customer should decide for themselves which offers suit them best. The main thing is that as many people as possible are inspired to plant trees and thus invest in a more sustainable future right now.

Further questions or suggestions? Feel free to share them with us via info@growmytree.com