A Green Flag for Your School, A Tree for Our Planet
At Eco-Schools, we believe every achievement deserves a legacy. That’s why for every single school, nursery or college that achieves their Eco-Schools Green Flag accreditation, we’ll plant a tree thanks to JUST ONE Tree.
Since 2023, your achievements have been helping grow forests around the equator. When you submit your application and earn your Eco-Schools Green Flag, you aren’t just improving your grounds—you are actively restoring ecosystems across the globe.
The power of your Eco-Schools Green Flag
Your commitment to Eco-Schools has a direct, measurable impact on the climate crisis. Through our partnership with JUST ONE Tree, the Eco-Schools network has already achieved incredible milestones:
- 6,441 trees planted as a direct result of Green Flag accreditations.
- 1,983 tonnes of CO2 set to be removed over the next 25 years from these trees alone.
Who is JUST ONE Tree?
JUST ONE Tree is a non-profit initiative that makes reforestation simple and impactful. They focus on ‘equator planting’—the areas where trees grow the fastest and have the most significant cooling effect on the planet.
By working with JUST ONE Tree, we ensure that your school’s success supports projects that benefit both people and the planet.
Where Your Trees Grow
Your accreditation helps fund diverse projects across four continents. These aren’t just trees; they are foundations for life:
- Mangroves (coastal protection): These climate superstars absorb up to 10x more carbon than land-based trees. They provide a breeding ground for 75% of tropical fish and can reduce the height of a tsunami wave by up to 70%!
- Polylepis (high-altitude heroes): Growing up to 5,000m above sea level in the Andes, these forests act as ‘water towers,’ capturing mist and feeding water into the rivers and streams that millions of people rely on.
- Sustainable communities: Reforestation only works if the local people thrive too. In Zambia, your trees support honey production; in Kenya, fruit trees provide food and income; and in Brazil, communities create sustainable soaps from forest products.
A Global Movement: JUST ONE Tree Day
The impact of our partnership can go even further during JUST ONE Tree Day. Hundreds of schools across Africa, America, Asia and Europe take part in this international movement to fund global reforestation.
We encourage all our Eco-Schools to join in! It’s a fantastic way to engage students and see your collective impact grow.
Top tip: When your school signs up for JUST ONE Tree Day, please select ‘Eco-Schools’ as your referral. This helps us track our network’s total impact—allowing us to see exactly how many thousands of tonnes of carbon we are removing together.
Our collective efforts have grown 16,179 trees — removing 4,934 tonnes of CO2 over 25 years — and provided £485 for ocean regeneration to restore vital kelp forests. Every Eco-Schools Green Flag expands this vital legacy for both land and sea!
Join the Forest
Every Green Flag earned is a step toward a healthier planet. Is your school, nursery or college ready to plant its tree?
