How Gentrack used CarbonInvoice's Planting Action Days to deliver ESG results that impressed leadership
Customer StoriesStewart Green knew he had a challenge on his hands. As Group ESG Director for Gentrack, a publicly traded technology company with over 1000 employees across multiple continents, he needed to find ways to make their "Respect for the Planet" value feel real and tangible. Stewart's Global Sustainability Task Force needed activities that would educate their people about climate change while taking genuine action in their local communities.
The pressure was mounting from multiple directions. Investors wanted to see concrete ESG initiatives, not just sustainability reports filled with abstract metrics. The Auckland-based team needed something that would bring colleagues together across different departments. And frankly, Stewart was tired of abstract sustainability reporting that didn't create any real environmental impact. He needed something his leadership team would actually celebrate.
At this point, Stewart started researching options that could combine team building with meaningful environmental action. That's when he discovered CarbonInvoice's Planting Action Days. The concept was simple: instead of buying carbon credits in some remote corner of the word, his team could plant native trees right in Auckland. The trees would help restore local waterways and biodiversity while giving his tech-focused team some much-needed connection with nature.
The simplicity appealed to Stewart immediately. CarbonInvoice would handle every detail, allowing his team to focus entirely on the experience. So he went for it.
"The Planting Action Day was discussed in our leadership meeting and heralded as a big success, exactly the type of meaningful thing that our GSTF exists to make happen." Stewart recalled.
Stewart's bet paid off spectacularly. The leadership team didn't just approve of the initiative - they celebrated it. The event brought Gentrack's core value to life through direct action while strengthening connections across the organisation. When Stewart received feedback like "Great day out, awesome communication leading up to it as well. Highly recommend," he knew they'd found something special.
Their impact was undeniable: 937 native trees planted in a single day. This wasn't some abstract carbon offset calculation - it was real trees, in real soil, making a real difference to Auckland's waterways and biodiversity.
The event created connections that extended well beyond the planting site. Seeing colleagues from across multiple departments collaborate in Auckland's countryside was something Stewart hadn't expected would be so powerful. One team member captured it perfectly: "Had a great day with my colleagues planting trees! A very rewarding experience, and some much-needed nature time."
For a technology company with employees spending most of their time indoors, this connection with nature was refreshing. The team building impact was extraordinary - and it happened naturally while contributing to environmental restoration.
The professional videography and photography from the event enabled Stewart to share their impact story authentically, both internally and with stakeholders globally. This content became valuable for investor communications and client presentations, showing Gentrack's commitment to environmental action in a way that sustainability reports never could.
The visual proof of their environmental commitment resonated with stakeholders who were increasingly asking tough questions about ESG initiatives.
Stewart's biggest frustration now? CarbonInvoice doesn't operate in all of Gentrack's global locations yet. The success in Auckland was so significant that he wants to replicate it across their international offices. The model worked perfectly: meaningful environmental action, team building, leadership recognition, and stakeholder communication all in one initiative.
The event delivered everything Stewart hoped for and more. It proved that ESG leadership doesn't have to be complicated or abstract. Sometimes the most effective approach is the simplest: get your team together, plant some native trees, and create real environmental impact in your local community.
This wasn't just a successful team event - it was validation that the Global Sustainability Task Force could deliver the type of meaningful action that makes corporate values feel real.
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