Looking for a tree planting service that does more than just put trees in the ground?
We’ve been in this space for over a decade, working alongside hundreds of community groups and tree planting organisations across Australia. In that time, we’ve learned who delivers real results.
Five Australian Tree Planting Companies Worth Knowing About
If you’ve been thinking about planting trees, whether for yourself, your family or your business, the good news is that Australia has some genuinely wonderful organisations making it possible. Here are five worth knowing about, each with their own approach and their own story.
Fifteen Trees (2009)
Full disclosure – this one is ours. But we include it because we genuinely believe what makes Fifteen Trees different is worth saying.
What sets Fifteen Trees apart is our personalised approach. Rather than a one-size-fits-all carbon offset program, we take the time to understand your business and link your tree planting to something that actually means something. For example, 15 native trees for every vehicle in your fleet, one tree for every tax invoice sent, or one tree per flight hour. It’s a creative and practical way to weave sustainability into the fabric of your daily operations rather than treating it as an afterthought.
Founding Director Colleen Filippa holds a degree in Environmental Science from Melbourne University and brings more than 20 years of experience in sustainability, climate education and community revegetation projects.
Once your trees are in the ground, we’ll send you photos and the full story behind the planting including the community group involved, where in Australia your trees were planted, and the difference they’re making to local wildlife and habitat. You can also find your trees on our website by searching your name or company name.
Trillion Trees (1979)
Originally founded as Men of the Trees in Western Australia in 1979, the organisation rebranded as Trillion Trees Australia in 2017, inspired by the idea that there is space on the planet to plant one trillion more trees without touching urban areas or agricultural land.
Using only Australian native species, most of which are propagated and grown in their Hazelmere nursery, Trillion Trees has planted over 15 million native trees and understorey across Western Australia. Their community nursery grows over 200,000 seedlings annually, supplying local councils, landcare groups and home gardeners across the region.
Perhaps their most remarkable program is SPROUT! A schools education program operating since 1980 that has connected with over 120,000 young people, who together have planted more than 2.5 million trees.
Greening Australia (1982)
Greening Australia has been restoring and conserving Australia’s unique landscapes through collaborative, science-based programs for over 40 years, planting millions of native trees, protecting hundreds of native species, and supporting Traditional Owners’ aspirations for restoring country.
What sets Greening Australia apart is the sheer scale of their ambition. Their projects span approximately 20,000 hectares of land, and establishing 25 million trees will sequester approximately 4.25 million tonnes of carbon dioxide over a 25-year period. If you’re a large organisation with serious environmental commitments, Greening Australia operates at a scale that can match them.
They are science-led, nationally focused and deeply committed to working alongside First Nations communities — making them one of the most respected environmental restoration organisations in the country.
Green Fleet (2000)
Greenfleet is Australia’s first carbon offset provider, and since 1997 has planted over 11 million trees creating more than 550 forests in Australia and New Zealand. Their forests are legally protected for up to 100 years, which is one of their strongest points of difference.
Greenfleet uses CSIRO-verified carbon accounting to measure sequestration at their forests, with their carbon estate also verified by an Australian government recognised carbon auditor. For businesses with formal carbon neutral certification requirements, that level of rigour matters.
Last year, Greenfleet restored over 400 hectares of koala habitat – a genuinely significant contribution to one of Australia’s most at-risk native animals. They also work with some of Australia’s largest companies, making them a natural fit for big corporate sustainability programs.
Carbon Neutral (2005)
Carbon Neutral has spent two decades creating large-scale reforestation projects that restore landscapes, preserve biodiversity and sequester atmospheric carbon across Australia. Their services go beyond tree planting to include energy and water auditing, carbon consulting and emissions reduction programs. This makes them a comprehensive partner for organisations serious about measuring and managing their full environmental footprint.
Interestingly, Carbon Neutral was actually inspired and founded by Trillion Trees Australia.
Which one is right for you?
The honest answer is that it depends on what you’re looking for. If you want large-scale, verified carbon offsetting with legal protection, Greenfleet or Carbon Neutral are strong choices. If you want landscape restoration at a national level with serious scientific credentials, Greening Australia is hard to beat. If you’re in Western Australia and want to get involved in tree planting, Trillion Trees is extraordinary.
And if you want something personal, transparent and connected to Australian community groups planting trees in places that you know – well, you know where to find us.
Keep in mind, a good tree planting company will ensure:
- Permanency. Trees planted should be native, if not indigenous to the district in which they are planted. Those planting the trees need to be experienced and knowledgeable planters. The trees need to be planted at the right time of the year and protected with tree guards.
- Additional Planting. The trees need to be in addition to what was going to be planted.
- Transparency. The planting company needs to be able to tell you where your trees were planted and what type of tree.
- Credibility. The company needs to be credible with expertise and knowledge but also it needs to be trustworthy with a proven track-record.
Writer; Colleen B. Filippa
With a background in Environmental Science, Colleen is the Founding Director of Fifteen Trees. In 2009, after 20 years in primary, secondary and tertiary education institutions, Colleen left the classroom to start the company. Fifteen Trees is a social enterprise assisting individuals and companies to reduce their carbon footprint by supporting community groups such as Landcare, schools and environmental networks.
