1% For The Trees
In 2014, AET’s CEO & Managing Director, Scott Freiburger, launched the Project Plant a Tree program – later renamed 1% For the Trees in 2019. Through the program, 1% of AET’s annual profits go directly towards planting trees through local and national conservation authorities including Forest’s Ontario and Tree Canada in an effort to re-green natural landscapes across Canada. AET has a goal to plant 30,000 trees across Canada by 2030 focusing on areas that have been affected by deforestation.
In 2022, AET partnered with Sustainable Waterloo Region to become a sponsor for their Microforest Project and has committed to continue supporting Sustainable Waterloo Regions Microforest Projects throughout Waterloo Region through 2032.
Microforest Projects AET has sponsored are:
- 2022 – Wilson Avenue Public School
- Over 100 native trees and shrubs were planted and will grow into an outdoor space that the students and community can enjoy for years to come
- 2023 – Anishnabeg Outreach’s Reconciliation Garden
- 96 native trees and shrubs were planted and will grow into a food forest
- 2024 – Smithson Public School
- 100 native trees and shrubs were planted on school property to provide outdoor education, schoolyard shade and aesthetics
Since the launch of the program in 2014, AET has planted 12,079 trees resulting in 760,011 kg of carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere, 1,045,015kg of oxygen produced, and allowing 24,158 people across Canada to breathe cleaner air.