Back in 2001, far too many schools were burning paper and cardboard or sending it to landfill. Paper4Trees was created to reduce all that waste by providing education and practical recycling bins, offering rewards of native trees as an incentive.

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What began with a few bins in a handful of Tauranga schools has evolved into the largest recycling and tree planting programme in Aotearoa New Zealand. It now reaches more than 4,000 schools and preschools. Participating tamariki have helped plant hundreds of thousands of native trees, creating a living legacy that stretches from school grounds to restoration projects throughout the country.

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Today, Paper4Trees continues to offer young New Zealanders a practical way to reduce waste and save resources while restoring native habitats and making a positive difference in their communities. It helps children become kaitiaki, showing them that small actions can create lasting environmental change.