Event organisers can reduce waste and choose a separate tree-planting contribution. The practical questions are which event materials or travel can change, what planting rule to use, and what evidence participants can see afterward.
A green event is planned to reduce impacts such as waste, travel and material use. Tree planting can be a separate contribution, not a substitute for reducing the event’s own footprint. ForestNation’s event programme can link planting in Tanzania to a defined activity, such as an attendee, ticket or qualifying lead. If planting fits your event, explore how to plant trees at your event and confirm the format, minimum order and delivery options for your location.
ForestNation’s Working Trees field study informs a modelled average of about 0.025 tonnes of CO₂ absorbed per tree per year, with a 30% uncertainty discount. It is not a direct reading for each new event tree or a measure of the event’s emissions. For programmes spanning several events, see how to plant trees for corporate events; for waste reduction, see our guide to zero-waste events.
Key Takeaways
- Reduce event waste and travel impacts where possible. Treat tree planting in Tanzania as an additional contribution, not a claim that the whole event is green.
- Choose a clear planting rule, for example one tree per attendee, ticket or qualifying lead, and report the actual count when available.
- The published CO₂ figure is a modelled programme-level estimate informed by field measurements, not a direct measurement of every gifted tree.
- ForestNation’s event options include physical Tree Kits, digital Gift Stories and a named forest tied to an agreed activity. See how companies can plant trees at their event, then confirm quantities and delivery.
Six ways to connect trees to an event
Here are six ways to connect tree gifts or planting to an event. Choose the ones that fit the audience and logistics.
1. Tree Kits as Event Giveaways
Give attendees Tree Kits they can try to grow at home, alongside a matching tree planted through ForestNation’s Tanzania programme. Check the exact kit components, packaging and local disposal options before describing a particular order as plastic-free or compostable.
To brand the giveaway with your logo and message, order custom branded tree kits for your event.
State the agreed number of matching trees and where they will be planted.
Invite recipients to name their kit trees and share photos or updates if they wish.
See how Hako displayed branded Tree Kits at an exhibition and linked them to its company forest.
More examples here: The Power of Event Giveaways
2. Tree Kits as Event Passes
Consider using a Tree Kit as an event pass or delegate gift. Review materials and fulfilment for the chosen format as you compare event Tree Kits.
Give recipients clear growing instructions, and explain that the kit seedling they may grow is separate from the trees planted in Tanzania.
If a lanyard is needed, ask the supplier for its full material specification and a plan to reuse or collect it after the event.
3. Plant trees with any Gift
Link a specified number of trees planted in Tanzania to each qualifying gift. State the rule on packaging or an insert, and use a QR code to point to the event Forest Profile. Keep the planting claim separate from any claim about the physical gift’s materials or footprint.
4. Gift a Forest to Event attendees
Gift attendees a share in a named forest in Tanzania. After the planting commitment is recorded, send a digital Gift Story with a personal message and a link to the Forest Profile. Describe what the profile records rather than promising that every tree has already reached the ground at the moment of sending.
Read more: Guide to Eco-Friendly Event Booths
5. Plant Trees to Contribute Toward Your Event’s Footprint
Measure and reduce the event’s footprint separately, including travel, energy, materials and waste. Report tree planting as an additional reforestation contribution, not as a cancellation of those emissions.
The M&E Week event forest case study describes an event forest linked to attendees. The archive claimed the planting addressed that historical event’s emissions; do not repeat the claim for a current event without an event-specific footprint assessment and suitable evidence.
6. Lead Gen at Events with Trees
A QR code can invite visitors to opt in to a follow-up and a tree gift. Agree in advance which submissions qualify for planting, how consent is collected, and when the Gift Story and Forest Profile link will be sent.
Ask ForestNation for the current lead-generation setup and pricing before promising a free tree or an automatic send for every form submission.
Bonus: ForestNation Gift Stories for Event Participants
A ForestNation digital tree gift can send each participant a Gift Story with a personal message linked to a tree-planting commitment in Tanzania and a Forest Profile they can revisit. It avoids physical-gift shipping, but still needs approved copy, recipient details and a sending plan. For event tree gifting programmes: set up an event tree gifting programme.
In conclusion
Start with the event changes you can measure, then choose whether a Tree Kit, Gift Story or named forest fits the people attending. To discuss a planting rule and the evidence you can share, contact the ForestNation team.
Not in ForestNation’s standard event programme: the programme trees are planted in Tanzania, not by guests at the venue. A guest with a Tree Kit can try to grow a separate seedling at home. If you want local hands-on planting, arrange a suitable site, permissions and aftercare with a local partner as a separate activity.
Choose Tree Kits for a physical grow-at-home experience, digital Gift Stories for a personal email-delivered message, or a tree-per-attendee rule when the main aim is a shared event forest. The formats can be combined, but first confirm recipient details, quantities, artwork, shipping where relevant and current pricing for the event.
Your team needs to choose the gift format and planting rule, supply the expected guest count and approved artwork or message, and agree how gifts will reach attendees. ForestNation manages the Tanzania planting programme; agree who will hand out Tree Kits or send Gift Story links. Confirm the current fulfilment schedule, delivery options and price before making an attendee promise.
FAQ sources: ForestNation’s event programme and organiser FAQ; ForestNation’s impact methodology.
