An Update On Our One Print, One Tree Program

The COP26 global climate summit in Glasgow has been a watershed moment for humanity. With the event drawing to a close after two weeks of climate change talks between world leaders, we want to take this moment to provide an update on our One Print, One Tree program, the first 1-for-1 reforestation project of its kind where we’ve committed to planting a tree for every print order ever placed with Canva.

As part of the program, we’ve partnered with sustainability group ‘Reduce. Reuse. Grow’ and our planting is focused on native restoration which tries to mimic what a native forest would do. Since launching in March 2021, we've planted over 1 million trees with a further 3 million to be planted through accredited reforestation schemes by the end of 2022. They're lined up for the various growing seasons across 15 sites in Kenya, Mozambique, the Philippines, Tanzania, Brazil, Haiti, USA and Madagascar.

The program is tailored to support the unique needs of the flora and fauna of each region. For example, the focal point of our planting in the Philippines is around providing habitats for endangered species such as the Philippine eagle and Philippine crocodile. To promote plant diversity, we have 205 different plant species outlined for planting and it’s estimated that our efforts will lead to the regeneration of approximately 2,400 hectares of forest.

Planting seeds of hope

We’re committed to tackling climate change by cutting emissions and promoting regeneration. Planting trees is one of the most economical and effective ways of tackling climate change caused by greenhouse gases. As trees grow, not only do they absorb carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, but they also improve water retention, biodiversity and habitat protection while creating opportunities in agriculture and agroforestry.

As well as the environmental benefits, our planting site in Madagascar currently employs 46 people from local communities in the region, creating new employment opportunities for those who previously had little or no income. It’s a testament to our belief that doing good for the environment is good for local communities, good for society and good for our planet.

Having a steady income allows these local communities to put aside savings, invest in their households, start micro-enterprises to diversify their income opportunities and provide healthcare for their families. There are a number of other significant socio-economic benefits as a result, including improved diets and health due to having access to nutritious food, as well as being able to pay for education and send children to school. This new purchasing power also unlocks access to important items that significantly improve quality of life, such as beds, mattresses, solar panels and more.

A glimpse into our green future

Looking ahead to next year, we’re planning to expand our One Print, One Tree program by creating Indigenous food forests, celebrating traditional knowledge systems and contributing to the biodiversity protection of endangered species by regenerating areas that have been affected through wildfires as well as expanding our focus to grassland, savannah and prairie regeneration.

For Canva, doing good in the world is a core part of our DNA. We strive to be a force for good through empowerment, investment and decision making that benefits people and the planet. The decisions we make are guided by our simple Two-Step Plan.

We have both an incredible opportunity and a huge responsibility to use our voice, our reach and our resources to leave our planet in a better place for the next generation. The beauty of our One Print, One Tree program is that there’s no limit to the number of trees we can plant. In the first year alone since launching the program, we’ve been able to plant the equivalent of seven Central Parks. We’re determined to make each print order count as an investment in our environment’s health, and we look forward to keeping you updated on our planting progress.

When it comes to tackling the greatest challenges facing our environment, it can be tough knowing where to start. We can all start small. If we can all make little changes at home and at work, our combined efforts can have a massively positive impact. To help get the ball rolling, we’ve created a whole range of templates that provide sustainable activities, ideas and tips which you can find here.