It’d be a rare adventurer these days who hasn’t stayed in an Airbnb. What’s not to love – unique stays, homely touches, quirks galore, often an interesting host or astonishing architectural feature to tell stories about when you get home. Airbnb has changed the holiday landscape forever, and for the better.

As one might expect from anyone involved in an innovative property management model, Airbnb hosts are increasingly inviting guests to consider the environment. In some cases it’s simply a matter of necessity. Many of us – in numbers that will only increase – live in areas where water restrictions are a seasonal certainty. But in broader terms, we are all increasingly aware of the climate change threat, and of our responsibilities to the one planet we have. Airbnb is keeping up with the developing ethics of its clientele. If we’re guests, we like to know that our hosts are taking steps to offset some of the environmental costs associated with running a small business and maintaining a property. If we’re hosts, we like to encourage guests to appreciate that their adventures away from home do leave traces upon the earth.

There are many small ways hosts can role model good environmental citizenship. Most of us already do some of them in our own homes – we might encourage recycling, use eco-cleaners, minimise heating and cooling needs through sensible furnishing, a whole raft of modest but useful measures. There are also more macro ways to help – purchase green power for Airbnb properties, for example, or choose banks with good environmental credentials. You can also choose to get some trees planted on behalf of your guests. One tree per booking.

Jill Gilchrist was our very first AirBnB host to partner with Fifteen Trees. Jill manages, Wyobie One  in Manly, NSW. Wyobie One already features eco-friendly features like bamboo toilet paper and composting facilities.

Since 2019, for every booking made, a tree is planted.

2022 Planting

This year, Jill’s trees (30) were planted by Grow West Community at Hopetoun Park along the Werribee River, VIC. Over 160 wonderful volunteers planted more than 3,700 trees, shrubs and grasses, in amongst these plants were Jill’s trees.

It is so fantastic to have community members, who care about the environment, come together to improve habitat and increase connectivity in the landscape. Days like this could not happen without the amazing support of organisations such as Fifteen Trees and their sponsors.

Lindy MacRaild | Coordinator | Grow West

Animals that will benefit from this planting include, platypus, and numerous species of birds, frogs, reptiles, insects, possums, small mammals and macropods.

2020 Planting

The trees (30) were planted in the Brisbane Ranges, VIC. located just to the west of Melbourne. These trees (and indigenous shrubs) will contribute to a wide range of local regeneration and habitat projects. In time, as they grow, they will will make an enormous difference to the ecosystems as they protect remnant gum trees, some of which have been here for centuries.

Thank you to Fifteen Trees sponsors for helping to fund the Brisbane Ranges Landcare Group and their planting project at Balliang, VIC. We appreciate your support.

Robert Hall | Brisbane Ranges Landcare Group.

2019 Planting

This year, Jill’s trees (30) were planted on the outskirts of the very successful ongoing revegetation project in the new Woowookarung State Forest VIC. Jill’s guests might never see these trees. But, like Airbnb itself, this is a partnership about connection and mutual benefit. It’s about making links all over the world, creating a more vibrant, sustainable society where we can all play and breathe for many years to come.

If you’re an Airbnb host and are interested in upping your eco-credentials, please contact us. We can get you started by planting 15 trees (@$6.30/tree) on your behalf and send you a PDF poster you can display outlining your support to your guests. Plus we’ll feature you here, so you can link back to your trees from your end.

Article by Sarah Hart.

Sarah is an emerging self-taught artist whose passions include the stories and experiences of women and narrative driven creative work. Her aim is to delight, to reveal glimpses of everyday beauty, and to celebrate flights of the ordinary. Sarah works across a range of media, with an abiding interest in pen and ink, mixed media and the human form.