Guide for companies
You planted trees and you want people to know. Good! Here is how to say it clearly and honestly, so the story is as strong as the forest.
£5 per tree, VAT included
is the year the new EU rules start to apply: from 27 September, to the environmental claims businesses make to consumers.
Directive (EU) 2024/825, Article 4and other generic words such as "green" or "climate friendly" need recognised excellent environmental performance behind them.
Directive (EU) 2024/825, Annex I, point 4ayou can still tell people about the environmental initiatives you invest in, as long as you do it in a way that is not misleading.
Directive (EU) 2024/825, recital 12The strongest sentence is a specific one: how many trees, which species, on what kind of land and when. "In 2026 we planted 500 native spruce, pine and birch trees with Carbon Reserve on former grassland" tells a real story, and anyone can see it on our leaderboard.
Both terms are about balancing emissions, but they are used differently. "Carbon neutral" usually means that a company or a product balances its emissions with credits. "Net zero" usually means cutting emissions deeply first, and dealing only with what is left, over many years. Either way, trees are not a balance sheet. Describe your planting as what it is: a contribution to new forest, next to the work of reducing your own emissions.
From 27 September 2026, EU countries apply Directive (EU) 2024/825 to what businesses tell consumers: ads, packaging, websites. Generic claims such as "eco-friendly", "green" or "climate friendly" are not allowed unless you can show recognised excellent environmental performance. Claims that a product has a neutral, reduced or positive impact on the climate because emissions were offset are not allowed at all.
The good news: the directive also says companies can still tell people about the environmental initiatives they invest in, as long as they do it in a way that is not misleading. Specific, true and easy to check is the way.
Put the trees under what you support, not as something subtracted from your emissions. Give the number of trees, the species, the planting season and a link to the leaderboard. Our updates and yearly impact report give you progress and photos to show in next year's report.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. For your own claims, check the rules in your country.
Native trees on former grassland: a new forest you can point to.
Your trees on the public leaderboard, with updates and a yearly impact report.
Numbers and places, not big words.
One tree costs £5. Companies outside the EU, and EU companies with a valid VAT number, pay without VAT.
On the planting form, with your company details.
Updates, photos and a yearly impact report to share.
No. Planting trees is a contribution to new forest, not a way to cancel out emissions, and in the EU a claim of a neutral impact based on offsetting is not allowed. Say what you did instead: how many trees, which ones and where.
Yes. Say what you did, for example "We planted 500 native trees with Carbon Reserve", and link to the leaderboard so people can see it.
We will apply for forest certification such as PEFC in the years after planting, once the young forest is established. Until then, don't describe the trees as certified.
No. It is a general guide. For your own claims, check the rules in your country or ask a lawyer.
