This year we proudly established The Michael Hill Foundation, dedicated to empowering women and restoring nature in our localities; a significant step towards achieving our 2030 sustainability goals.
There is much work to be done in protecting our environment and conserving it for future generations. Progress begins with the first steps, and you can find out more about our sustainability goals, achievements, and the steps we’re taking here.
Our key nature restoration mission through the Foundation is to help plant one million trees by 2030: a goal made possible by One Tree Planted. One Tree Planted is a non-profit organisation focused on global reforestation. They aim to help restore forests, create habitats for biodiversity, and make a positive social impact around the world. Together with their planting partners, One Tree Planted turns donations into saplings that are planted, monitored, and cared for in areas where they’re needed most.
For every piece sold from our LAB. Collection in Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, Michael Hill has committed to planting up to 10 trees with One Tree Planted.
Based on purchases since the Foundation launched in February 2024, our customers have so far contributed to over 52,000 trees being planted.
In honour of World Environment Day on 5th June, we spoke to the team at One Tree Planted to learn more about their mission, environmental impact, and how your contributions help.
Where did the idea begin for One Tree Planted? Why is your mission so important?
“One Tree Planted was founded on a clear vision: to provide individuals and businesses with a simple way to make a real impact. Planting trees is one of the best ways to restore ecosystems that have been degraded or deforested, and it’s something that’s easy for everyone to understand and connect to.
In a warming world, reforestation is a critical part of a holistic climate change strategy. Healthy, resilient communities depend fundamentally on healthy, resilient landscapes. And as a reforestation nonprofit, we recognise that tree planting will play a critical role in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals, UN Decade on Restoration and climate commitments under the Paris Agreement. Planting the right trees in the right way can have multi-dimensional benefits (for nature, local communities, and biodiversity), and create deep partnerships that often integrate reforestation with other land restoration strategies.”
Our goal through The Michael Hill Foundation is to contribute to planting 1 million trees by 2030. What kind of environmental impact would this have?
“Michael Hill’s goal of planting 1 million trees represents a powerful commitment to environmental restoration. When trees are planted in the right place, at the right time, and for the right reasons, they can help address many of the environmental and social challenges we face. While specific project impacts vary depending on factors such as tree species, location, and local environmental conditions, here are five potential positive effects:
Biodiversity Habitat: Forest ecosystems encompass richly layered habitat types, which provide shelter to a breathtaking range of biodiversity — including 80% of amphibian species, 75% of bird species, and 68% of mammal species (1). The planting of 1,000,000 trees could make a profound contribution to global biodiversity conservation by providing nesting sites, food sources, and shelter for species that depend on forests.
Social Impact: Reforestation is a powerful way to support community growth, education, and economic empowerment worldwide. By partnering with on-the-ground organisations and nurseries, our projects support marginalised communities, improve income stability, and create jobs.
Carbon Sequestration: A mature tree can absorb an average of 22 lbs [approximately 10kg] of carbon dioxide per year (2), playing an important role in helping society mitigate the effects of climate change. Healthy forests increase climate change resilience in many ways — including by reducing ambient temperatures by an average of 8° Celsius.
Temperature Regulation: Trees contribute to cooling the environment through a process called transpiration. 1,000,000 trees can help regulate local temperatures by providing shade and releasing water vapor through their leaves, thereby cooling the surrounding air.
Soil Conservation: The roots of trees help prevent soil erosion by binding soil particles together. Planting 1,000,000 trees can contribute to improved soil stability, reducing the risk of landslides and maintaining the health of local ecosystems.”
How does your organisation decide where to focus restoration efforts?
“Our projects team is spread globally, with a strong understanding of strategic priorities and critical needs in different regions. We look for projects that have strong community engagement and deliver multiple benefits for nature and biodiversity. We receive detailed proposals with comprehensive project plans from local planting organisations around the world. These might be grassroots conservation groups, governmental stewardship organisations, conservation non-profits, indigenous groups and more. Our Projects Team vets these proposals using our Project Criteria, which is underpinned by the International Standards and Principles for the Practice of Ecological Restoration.”
How do contributions from brands like Michael Hill, help you to make an impact?
“Donor support and collaboration play a critical role in One Tree Planted’s mission, providing the essential funding that fuels our projects and partnerships. Partnerships with much-loved brands like Michael Hill also help to raise awareness of our work and the importance of reforestation, helping us to grow and scale our impact.”
Learn more about The Michael Hill Foundation and how you can help us make an impact.
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Sources referenced by One Tree Planted:
1. Earth's Biodiversity Depends on Forests UN Environment Programme
2. How Much CO2 Does a Tree Absorb? By Ross Bernet, One Tree Planted
