Our trees stand tall for us everyday and they don't receive enough recognition for all they do. Trees have a positive effect on our environment, our community, our health and our economy.

See how a tree can make a difference in your life.

• How do trees help the environment?
• Can trees improve my health?
• Why should I plant trees around my home?
• How does Plant Your Tree benefit the community?
• How does tree planting help the economy?
• Why should my business participate?

• Every tree planted can allow 2 people to breathe clean air for a lifetime.



• A full grown tree can absorb 48 lbs of CO₂ per year.



• 500 trees counteract the negative environmental effects of one car for one year
  (source: The Nature Conservancy in the US).



• Trees use nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium - byproducts of city living - which can pollute our streams.



• Trees absorb dangerous chemicals and other pollutants that have entered the soil. Trees act as natural filters that can or change pollutants such as sewage, farming chemicals, animal wastes, roadside spills and water runoff into streams.



• Trees provide habitat - including food and shelter for many species of birds, insects, and other wildlife.



• Trees helps reduce flash flooding. Some trees can intercept more than 1000 gallons of water annually when fully grown.



• Tree roots bind the soil and their leaves break the force of wind and rain on soil. Trees fight soil erosion, conserve rainwater and reduce water runoff and sediment deposit after storms.



• Recent research has demonstrated that urban heat islands change weather patterns, altering the amount and duration of local and downwind rainfall patterns. Urban trees lessen the impact of the urban heat island effect and reduce changes in weather patterns.

• Hospital patients with a view of trees out their window recover faster and with fewer complications than patients without such views.



• 343 trees in a kilometer square decreases asthma rates by 29% in young children
  (Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health).



• Green spaces encourage physical activity such as hiking



• A healthy tree can reduce air borne dust particles by as much as 7,000 particles per litre of air acting as a free standing air conditioner and purifier.



• Valuable medicines are produced from many species of trees



• Trees provide a reliable target while golfing



• In laboratory research, visual exposure to settings with trees has produced significant recovery from stress within five minutes, as indicated by changes in blood pressure and muscle tension.
  (Ulrich, 1984)



• Symptoms of children with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) are relieved after contact with nature. The greener the setting, the more the relief. By comparison, activities indoors such as watching TV, or outdoors in paved, non-green areas leave ADD children functioning worse
  (Taylor, et. al., 2001).



• Poplar and cottonwood trees can breakdown carcinogenic groundwater contaminants such as trichloroethylene (TCE) and atrazine into harmless compounds.

• Properly placed trees can lead to nearly 60% savings on daytime air conditioning. The evaporation from one tree can produce the cooling effect of 10 room size air conditioners running for 24 hours/day.



• Real estate values increase when trees beautify a property or neighborhood. Trees can increase the property value of your home by 15% or more.



• During windy and cold seasons, trees located on the windward side act as windbreaks. A windbreak can lower home heating bills up to 30% and have a significant effect on reducing snow drifts.



• Strategically planted trees reduce noise from highways and airports.

The Plant Your Tree program was developed to raise funds and awareness for the Toronto and Region Conservation (TRCA) and to support the work of the Conservation Foundation of Greater Toronto (CFGT).

By offering unique and innovative programs which add value to your businesses marketing initiatives, plantyourtree.ca aims to plant 500,000 trees by 2015.

Plantyourtree.ca is operated in a sustainable manner with a clear focus to benefit every stakeholder.

Sustainable operations:

• When possible all communications and processes are performed electronically



• All plantyourtree.ca print materials are printed on FSC certified, 100% recycled paper



• Printing is done with vegetable based inks



• Greeting Card printing is done using Waterless print methods which eliminates waste water run off which ends up in our drinking water

Raising Funds and Awareness for TRCA and CFGT:

• TRCA Provides expert management of tree planting sites, ensuring the survival and health of our urban forests



• CFGT programs help educate students from all across southern Ontario about Conservation and Environmental awareness



• Increased awareness of TRCA and CFGT will lead to higher participation in community programs



• Funds raised are directly reinvested in our local community

Supporting our local and Canadian economy:

• Manufacturing facilities for both the Greeting Cards and Bio-Cards are located in Toronto



• IT support and Graphic design services are sourced locally



• Greeting Card paper is Made in Canada(manufactured in Quebec)



• Future projects will focus on increasing consumer awareness of eco friendly business in the GTA

Trees add direct economic value by increasing property values, retail sales and tourism.

• In 50 years, one tree generates $31,250 worth of oxygen, provides $62,000 worth of air pollution control, recycles $37,500 worth of water and controls $31,250 worth of soil erosion (source: US Forest Service).



• The greening of business districts increases community pride and positive perception of an area, drawing customers to the businesses.



• Office and industrial areas within green, wooded settings are in high demand by employers because employee life enhancement studies show that shady areas to eat and walk during lunch and breaks translates into more stress-free, productive employees. Workers without a view of nature from their desks reported 23% more instances of illnesses than those with a view of greenery.



• Trees provide a sustainable source of compost (leaf litter) for use by parks and recreation crews.



• Apartments and offices in wooded areas rent more quickly, have higher occupancy rates and tenants stay longer.



• The estimated value to replace every urban tree in Toronto is approximately $16 billion dollars.



• A study of benefits and costs of tree planting in Chicago found that the projected value of trees (e.g., pollution reduction, energy saving, property value) is nearly three times greater than the projected costs
  (McPherson, et. al., 1995).



• Trees reduce property damage costs due to flash flooding



• Trees help reduce health care costs

Many companies recognize the growing consumer demand for environmentally sustainable products and services.

Retail consumers are actively searching for more eco friendly options than ever before and many companies are implementing green procurement practices which affect every supplier to their business.

Participating in the Plant Your Tree program has many advantages:

• Positive brand alignment with Toronto and Region Conservation and the Conservation Foundation of Greater Toronto



• A clear demonstration of your companies environmental concern and community involvement



• A unique and interactive way to share your green message with your customers



• Your participation directly benefits over 6 million residents who live and work the greater Toronto region in the greater Toronto region.

As public attitudes towards the need for more corporate responsibility and greater environmental concern grows, positioning your company as a "green Leader" will have a deep impact on your bottom line.

People want to know that your company cares about the same things they do and that you are doing something to benefit the community.

• 95% of consumers would purchase "green products and services" - Deloitte



• 54% of consumers consider "Sustainability" a major factor in their decision-making factors in purchasing decision - Deloitte



• 82% of consumers are buying "Green" despite the downturn in the economy - Green Seal



• 74% of consumers can be classified as "highly environmentally receptive" - Consumer Focus



• 64% of consumers find it difficult to know which companies are taking steps to better the environment - Consumer Focus



• 84% of Marketing and PR professionals believe that proving "green credentials" is important to consumers - GreenPortfolio



• 73% of consumers considered it important that companies have good environmental records - Boston Consulting Group



• 54% of consumers think companies should be involved in social projects - Boston Consulting Group



• 80% of consumers believe companies should do more to benefit the environment - Consumer Focus

Participating the Plan Your Tree program is good for your customers, good for your city, good for the environment and good for business.

To learn more about the partners that make Plant Your Tree possible click here!