Veritree uses new tracking technology to manage, maintain and accurately gather data on how many trees are being planted through its projects, providing business investors and partners with accurate data.

Company Background

Veritree was officially started in 2019 by the founders of another company, Tentree. Tentree was launched in 2012 by founders Derrick Emsley, Kalen Emsley and David Luba. The company began as a consumer-based business that promised every item sold would result in 10 trees being planted. In just two years, Tentree had successfully planted more than one million trees. Two years later, the company became a certified B Corporation. In 2019, the founders launched Veritree to use technology to track and provide accurate data on trees being planted, allowing business investors to track progress accurately. Veritree reports reaching 100 million trees planted and verified by 2025.

Promise and Impact

Veritree is committed not only to the restoration of forests but also to the humanitarian impact of such development. It aims to restore communities and help developing countries through restoration, technology and job opportunities.

Woman-Led Projects

Veritree has provided women in Haiti with tools and projects to empower themselves, gain financial stability and restore the ecosystem. Along with Mother Tree, Veritree sought to reverse the trend and give women opportunities to farm, grow and create their own businesses.

Fanme Limye is one of the woman-led associations to emerge from Veritree’s project in Haiti. The association employs more than 194 artisans, 72% of whom are women. Their mission is to provide women with training and employment, offering financial stability and skills to enter the economic world. They seek to promote women’s rights, raise awareness and advocate for women.

Businesses Growing

Through Veritree’s initiative and easy-to-track technology, businesses are seeing real impact not only on their contributions but also on their operations. Oak Bay Beach Hotel stated that it has seen increased interest in its sustainability programs that can be verified with Veritree. Hopper donates trees on behalf of its customers. Hopper promotes tree planting to customers, while a BCBusiness profile reports that Veritree’s partnerships helped fuel 6,000% revenue growth since 2021. Sutton Place Hotels sought to become more sustainable while saving on labor costs. They invested in Veritree and advertised a cost-saving initiative to customers, committing to plant 10 trees for every night customers opt out of overnight housekeeping. This proved to be an effective way to engage with customers, saving $36,000 in annual costs.

Projects

Agroforestry projects in Haiti, Senegal, Rwanda and Tanzania are creating an integrated system of trees, woody plants and livestock on the same land to create healthier soil and effective biodiversity, promoting land productivity.

Terrestrial projects in Kenya, Brazil, the U.S. and Australia work to restore and expand forestry on depleted lands to reduce carbon emissions, regulate water resources and create a biodiverse ecosystem.

Mangrove restoration projects in Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique and Brazil are replanting mangrove trees in coastal areas to prevent erosion, enhance biodiversity and sequester carbon emissions.

Kelp sea-forestation projects in Canada are committed to regenerating sea forests to restore ocean health, improve water quality and protect marine habitats.

These are a few of the projects that Veritree led to save the planet and restore nature. These ongoing efforts not only restore the planet’s natural resources but also provide jobs, equality and financial stability to developing countries. Veritree states its restoration projects help generate employment and support women in communities including Haiti and East Africa. The company reports having planted and verified more than 100 million trees worldwide.

– Shannon Waters

Shannon is based in United Kingdom and focuses on Business and New Markets for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr