How HR can make simple gifting changes that drive measurable ESG impact

With sustainability now high on the corporate agenda, every department, including HR, has a role to play. And the good news is: some of the most impactful actions are also the simplest.

One easy switch? Replace traditional employee gifts, like bouquets or branded merchandise, with trees.

From flowers to forests: A small swap with long-term value

Consider the common bouquet of flowers. While beautiful, cut flowers come with a surprising carbon footprint. A study by Danish science magazine, Illustreret Videnskab, shows that a bouquet of 11 Dutch flowers imported to England emits around 31.1 kg of CO2. If they have also been flown in from overseas nurseries, the impact is even greater. When there are many employees to celebrate, the numbers quickly add up.

Trees, by contrast, are a gift that offers a lasting gesture that can grow in value over time and align with environmental goals when responsibly planted and maintained..

More trees, fewer bouquets and no handling documents

Trees offer a meaningful, long-lasting alternative to traditional gifts, while also streamlining the entire process.

No more juggling bouquet orders, receipts, PO numbers, or logistics. Instead, you get one simple digital solution where trees can be given, customised, and tracked, all in one place. A bank we work with estimates that they will save up to 2,000 hours of management time over time, precisely because the process is so simple.

Why trees make better gifts

Here’s why more HR teams are turning to trees as a gift alternative:

• Carbon reduction: A single tree absorbs an average of 25 kg of CO2 per year as it grows. Over the decades, that number adds up significantly.
• Tangible growth: Unlike flowers that wilt in a week, trees grow in value, health, and environmental impact, a fitting symbol for career milestones.
• Local engagement: With EcoTree, trees can be planted in one of our sustainable forests located near your offices, creating a direct, local impact that your employees can see and visit.
• Customisation: Choose the species of tree, add a personal message, and tailor the gift to match your company’s tone and values.
• Transparency and tracking: Employees can track the growth of their tree via their personal EcoTree account, reinforcing a sense of ownership and connection.

ESG and employee engagement go hand in hand

HR teams are increasingly being asked to support their companies’ ESG efforts, and this isn’t just about reporting or compliance. It’s also about building a purpose-driven culture.

When you choose to give trees, you strengthen your employees' experience of working for a climate-conscious company, enhance your concrete ESG results and CO2 accounting, and create a sense of engagement and pride among your employees.

At EcoTree, we’ve seen companies use tree-gifting in innovative ways:

• New employees: Plant a tree in their name as a welcome gesture.
• Work anniversaries & milestones: Mark the years with a growing forest.
• Holiday gifts: Swap out part (or all) of your Christmas gifts for trees that employees can visit.
• Team events: Host “forest days” where colleagues visit their designated trees, enjoy nature, and connect.

A success story: Companies chose nature over flowers 

Several Danish companies, including a pension fund, an IT company and a pharmaceutical company, have recently replaced the classic bouquet with something more lasting: trees planted in Danish forests.

The result? Over 50,000 m² of new forest established in two years, equivalent to covering seven football pitches with new Danish forest and a long list of happy employees and positive reactions.

A small step with real ESG value

Swapping flowers for trees goes beyond symbolism; it offers a traceable, long-term gesture that can support environmental goals. For companies tracking their CO2 emissions or aiming for carbon neutrality, every kilogram matters. And when you can combine that with employee engagement and positive brand perception, the case becomes even stronger.

As more companies publish their ESG strategies and seek real actions to support them, HR has a seat at the table. Conscious gifting is one of the most low-effort, high-impact changes any HR department can make.

Want to learn more?

We help companies across Europe integrate tree-gifting into their HR and ESG strategies in a personal, measurable, and meaningful way.

Whether you’re planning your next holiday gift, onboarding campaign, or employee recognition program, let’s explore how trees can play a part.

Book a meeting with our team to learn how we can help your company grow greener, one tree at a time.