How Many Trees Do You Need to Offset Your Carbon Footprint?
By Maurizio Giorda · 4 Jul 2026 in Green living
To offset one tonne (1,000 kg) of CO₂ you need roughly 25–100 tree-years of growth — for example ~40 established trees absorbing ~25 kg each for a year, or fewer trees over many years. The honest answer is a range: species, climate, tree age and survival all change the maths, which is why you should start from your actual footprint, not a slogan.
The quick maths
- 1 established tree ≈ 10–40 kg CO₂/year (≈25 kg average).
- 1 tonne CO₂ ≈ ~40 trees for one year at the average rate — or ~2 trees over 20 years of healthy growth.
- A typical individual footprint (several tonnes/year, country-dependent) ≈ a few hundred tree-years annually.
- Survival counts. Plant more than the theoretical minimum — credible programmes account for mortality.
Do it properly: measure first
Guessing leads to under- or over-claiming. Measure your footprint with the Evertreen CO₂ calculator, then size your planting with conservative, species-specific absorption values — our numbers are public in how we estimate tree CO₂.
Trees, credits, or both
Trees deliver growing absorption plus biodiversity and visible engagement; certified credits deliver audited tonnes today. Many businesses do both: plant geolocated trees with Evertreen from £1.5 each for the story and long-term removal, and retire Verra or Gold Standard credits for formal neutrality claims.
Frequently asked questions
How many trees offset 1 tonne of CO₂? Roughly 40 established trees for one year at average absorption — or fewer trees over decades; species and survival shift the figure.
How many trees offset a person's annual footprint? Commonly several hundred tree-years; calculate your exact tonnes first, then size conservatively.
Is planting enough for a net-zero claim? For audited claims pair planting with certified, retired credits; trees alone are a removal contribution that grows over time.
