Tree People Plants the Seed for Tree Planting Day

31/05/10

Following the success of the Tree People initiative, in which people around New Zealand grow virtual trees by living a “greener” life, the people behind the project have been inspired to plant native saplings on Motutapu Island.

Staff from Ubiquity and Genesis Energy joined forces to plant native saplings on Motutapu Island on Sunday, 19 October.

Ubiquity, a marketing technology company which delivered the technology for the Tree People website, takes a number of sustainability initiatives, including using energy efficient company vehicles, and supporting sustainable organisations in the community.

So it was a natural fit to partner with Genesis Energy, a leading energy company, on the Tree People project, as Genesis Energy is reducing its environmental impact and making a difference in the communities it operates in through its Hello Tomorrow Programme.

Ubiquity, inspired by the difference being made by the Tree People website, purchased over 100 native saplings to offset its annual carbon output. Staff from Ubiquity and Genesis Energy who had worked on Tree People, volunteered to plant the trees with the help of The Motutapu Trust, an organisation dedicated to the re-vegetation of Motutapu Island.

Tree People, www.treepeople.co.nz, is a website for New Zealanders of all ages who want to help the environment. Members adopt a tree which grows in the Tree People forest, pledging to make small lifestyle changes, such as switching off lights and unplugging phone chargers. As they complete pledges or encourage others to do so, their virtual tree grows.

In the first three months Tree People was live, over 23,000 people signed up; over 90,000 pledges were made; and almost 16,000,000kgs of carbon were saved. That’s the equivalent of planting 34,000 native trees.

Ubiquity is now assisting Genesis Energy with other sustainability initiatives, including migrating all of Genesis Energy’s marketing communications online.