Our Tree Planting Day with Reforest Now

Healing in Synergy with the Earth

INBLUEM was created with the intention of healing in synergy with the Earth, so while you heal, the Earth does too. We do this by creating skincare that not only works but also considers our impact; what we take from the Earth and how we ensure to give back in equal measure.

In our first year of business, INBLUEM became the first Australian skincare brand to achieve climate-positive certification, meaning we give back more than we take. We accomplished this by calculating our carbon footprint and entrusting the certification process to identify and manage how we could reinvest in a diverse range of projects monitored for their ongoing integrity and commitment to meaningful change.

While we remain certified carbon neutral, this year, we have decided to take a different approach. Rather than entrusting others to carry out projects intended to offset our impact, we are taking matters into our own hands, within our local community. This week, we are planting one native tree with every order, right in our own backyard.

Why Local Reforestation Matters

I, among many others, believe that if we all focused on localisation, caring for our own communities and their immediate surroundings, we would see a significant impact on climate change and worldwide rehabilitation. Putting our hands in the soil and planting our own trees strengthens our connection to the land, deepening our custodianship and responsibility for our environment. It also allows us to closely monitor their progress and keep you updated along the way.

If you are reading from afar, the home of our skincare is in Byron Bay. Over the past few years, our community has endured the devastating impacts of extreme floods, bushfires, and most recently, Cyclone Alfred. Many people lost their homes, belongings, and livelihoods. Meanwhile, our environment suffered landslides, polluted waterways, soil erosion, loss of fertility, habitat destruction, altered river and coastal systems, and an increase in invasive species.

While it is easy to feel hopeless in the face of such destruction, what we witnessed on the ground was the power of community, people coming together to rebuild and renew. The environment is following suit.

INBLUEM TREE PLANTING DAY

The Power of Native Trees and Reforestation

Planting native trees is one of the most effective and practical ways to combat climate change. Native trees are adapted to local conditions, making them more resilient, requiring fewer resources, and providing better habitats for local wildlife. They also:

• Absorb carbon: Trees act as carbon sinks, capturing 2.6 billion tonnes of CO2 globally every year, equivalent to 7% of the world's carbon emissions.

• Restore biodiversity: Native trees support local flora and fauna, helping restore ecosystems and prevent species extinction.

• Improve soil and water quality: Native trees reduce soil erosion and improve water retention, making the land more fertile and reducing the risk of flooding.

A Direct Impact on Climate Change

Forests play a critical role in mitigating climate change. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), global deforestation accounts for around 10–15% of total greenhouse gas emissions. Reforestation and afforestation can counteract this. In fact:

• A single mature tree can absorb 22 kilograms of CO2 per year.

• Planting one million trees could absorb over 22,000 metric tonnes of CO2 per year.

Rather than relying on carbon credits that may never materialise, planting trees with secure, long-term management ensures a lasting global impact, far beyond the expiry of any certification or sustainability trend.

Why ‘One Tree Planted’ Isn’t Enough

Globally, deforestation continues to outpace reforestation, leading to a net loss of forest cover. Between 2001 and 2023, the world lost 488 million hectares of tree cover, a 12% decrease since 2000.

Australia has experienced significant deforestation, also leading to a net loss in forest cover. Between 2000 and 2017, over 7.7 million hectares of forest and bushland were cleared—an area comparable to the size of Ireland. This rate of deforestation places Australia among the highest globally, with an average annual loss of approximately 416,840 hectares between 2015 and 2020.

With the rise of sustainability, and, therefore, greenwashing, many well-meaning companies announced tree-planting efforts, pledging to plant one tree per order with little to no research into the long-term management of the plants. Planting trees in non-native environments or in ecosystems unable to support them can disrupt biodiversity and cause long-term damage, that is, if the trees even survive or were planted in the first place.

What Can You Do?

The future of our planet depends on the actions we take today. Whether you plant a tree in your own yard, support a local reforestation project, or raise awareness in your community, every action matters. But I do not want this to be just another general email; I want you to feel inspired to create tangible change today.

Alongside a general move towards a greener future, here are some tangible projects you can support today:

• Local Futures Action Guide – A guide to going local, anytime, anywhere: https://actionguide.localfutures.org/

• Vote to end logging in native forests: https://voteearth.org.au/

And remember, this week, we are planting one native tree with every order.