FMCG company Nestle is partnering with Greening Australia, Canopy and One Tree Planted to plant 10 million trees in the country by 2025.
The partnership is a part of a bigger project – Nestle’s Global Reforestation Program” – aiming to achieve net zero emissions by 2030 by planting and growing 200 million trees worldwide.
“Our long-term commitment is about more than just planting trees. The reforestation program works to conserve local biodiversity, and advance regenerative food and farming systems – delivering environmental and economic benefits to communities,” said Nestle Oceania CEO Sandra Martinez.
Nestle has entered into a 28-year commitment with Greening Australia, One Tree Planted, and Canopy to ensure that the 10 million trees planted will be maintained and cared for as they grow and reach maturity.
An estimated 2.1 million tonnes of CO2 will be sequestered over a 25-year carbon crediting period by planting the trees. In fact, over the course of the project, this will amount to the annual fuel emissions from more than 25,000 cars.
With the support from local landholders and communities, the 10 million trees are expected to help with the restoration of local biodiversity as well as improve water quality and degraded soil.
Trees will be planted in locations linked to regional areas where Nestle sources raw materials and will be registered by Greening Australia’s environmental markets business, Canopy, for carbon credits with Australia’s Clean Energy Regulator.
The tree plantings are already underway in the Strzelecki Ranges and East Gippsland, Victoria. This year alone, Greening Australia is already on track to finish planting 200,000 trees across almost 100 hectares – an area more than three times the size of the Sydney Royal Botanic Garden.
Nestle, the world’s largest food and beverage company, has committed to being net zero by 2050. Last year, the company’s Australian arm switched to sourcing 100 per cent renewable electricity, which helped reduce around 73,000 tonnes of carbon emissions each year. Nestle Australia is also transitioning to 100 per cent of its packaging being recyclable or reusable. Meanwhile, more than 90 per cent of its packaging is now designed for recycling.
Greening Australia is an environmental enterprise that is working to tackle the challenges facing Australia’s unique landscapes in ways that work for communities, economies and nature. A wholly owned subsidiary of Greening Australia, Canopy specialises in science-led projects that restore ecosystems and benefit societies and economies, thus helping build a more resilient, biodiverse and sustainable world.
One Tree Planted is a non-profit organisation focused on global reforestation, with the aim to make it simple for anyone to help the environment by planting trees. Their projects span the globe and are done in partnership with local communities and experts to create an impact on nature, people, and wildlife.
