American Forests Partnership: Partnering for a Purpose – Helping to Reforest North America

In just five years, Travelers Personal Insurance has achieved significant environmental, educational and operational benefits through bold partnerships with American Forests and the U.S. chapter of 1t.org, contributing to a global movement of conserving, restoring and growing 1 trillion trees by 2030.

Through American Forests, Travelers funds the planting or conservation of one tree for each Personal Insurance billing account converted to paperless billing.

As of 2024, we have funded the planting or conservation of more than 5 million trees across 18 U.S. states and Canada through our partnership with American Forests and the U.S. chapter of 1t.org. Our current commitment is to fund the planting or conservation of up to 10 million trees by 2030.

Beyond this campaign’s environmental impacts of planting and conserving trees, it also positively impacts our customers by providing them with easy access to and retrieval of billing documents online. Operationally, it also helps us save millions of dollars a year in paper and postage costs. 

Some of the events that have helped us with our tree-planting efforts in recent years include the following:

• Connecticut. Fifty Personal Insurance leaders and employees dug holes, hauled mulch and planted 100 trees at the site of a former Hartford school building wedged between the interstate and downtown. Also present were members of KNOX Green Jobs Apprenticeships, which is a paid training program that offers local young people hands-on work experience and technical skills. In addition, nearly 100 Travelers employees came together with KNOX Hartford and American Forests to plant trees – red oaks, apple trees and junipers – in historic Colt Park in Hartford.
• Georgia. Fifty Travelers employees and independent agents gathered with Trees Atlanta for a planting event at Standing Peachtree Park – the event was part of a broader initiative aimed at preserving and restoring vital recreational areas along the Chattahoochee River.
• Minnesota. Fifty Travelers employees and independent agents gathered with local government officials and partners from American Forests and Tree Trust Branches to plant trees in Taft Park.
• Texas. Travelers employees and local independent agents joined members of the community to plant hundreds of trees in Rio Grande City, Texas, in 2019. This was a particularly important project because 95% of the habitat in this area – home to 11 endangered or threatened species – has been cleared.

Community/environmental benefits

• Each tree planted absorbs carbon, improves air quality and helps restore habitats for birds and other animals.

Travelers benefits

• Travelers achieves cost savings by eliminating the materials and labor costs associated with printing and mailing.
• Employees are increasingly concerned about the environment and appreciate the company’s focus on restoring forests, which improves engagement.
• Volunteer activities linked to the partnership provide team-building opportunities.