Trefadder: Tackling the climate crisis, one carbon forest at a time

By Molly McPharlin | Photos: Trefadder

As an IT professional, Anders Kristiansen often dealt with the process of documenting carbon neutrality by purchasing carbon credits for customers. Feeling the system lacked transparency, Kristiansen decided that a business managing carbon forests would be better suited to existing in a stable country like Norway, where trees and land could be safeguarded. This idea was the beginning of Trefadder.

Every person and business has a carbon footprint. While most emissions can be reduced, there are residual emissions that are harder to cut, especially from certain types of businesses. Carbon credits allow companies to offset these residuals by supporting projects that remove an equivalent amount of CO₂ from the atmosphere.

Launched in 2019, Trefadder’s main aim is to deliver premium carbon credits, ensuring the highest standards of quality and reliability. “There is a growing demand for projects that remove CO₂ from the atmosphere accurately and cost-effectively. Trefadder fills this gap with documented, traceable carbon capture projects,” says Kristiansen, founder and CEO. In addition to his IT experience, he also has a background in agriculture and environmental science.

Trefadder: Tackling the climate crisis, one carbon forest at a time

A reliable company in the fight against climate change

Currently, Trefadder serves over 200 clients worldwide across sectors such as technology and energy, and consults with companies such as Microsoft, ABB, Vår Energi, and BDO. “Companies choose Trefadder for our high-quality forest projects that offer full transparency, traceability, and documented CO₂ capture,” says Kristiansen.

At the same time, both businesses and private individuals can join Trefadder. “Our private membership contributes to tree planting, old-growth protection, and habitat restoration,” the CEO says.

Trefadder: Tackling the climate crisis, one carbon forest at a time

Projects that benefit businesses and local communities

Besides offering climate credits (known as carbon credits internationally) to companies that want to compensate for their emissions, Trefadder’s projects also include new tree planting, forest conservation and forest protection. For carbon capture, Trefadder works with local farmers to build Norwegian carbon forests using only specific Norwegian tree species, including spruce, pine, oak, beech, maple and ash. “We only plant the right tree in the right place,” ensures Kristiansen. The forests also create jobs and support local communities. “We’re also leading Norway’s largest oak forest restoration and have established the country’s first underwater climate forest to restore kelp. This plays a crucial role in marine ecosystems and carbon capture.”

Norwegian old-growth forests store vast amounts of carbon in trees, roots, and soil, and continue to capture CO₂ each year. Protecting these forests is vital for both climate stability and biodiversity.

Trefadder works exclusively in Norway, planting new forests and protecting old ones. “Norway’s geography, with natural barriers like fjords and mountains, offers excellent conditions for climate forests, which can provide long-term CO₂ capture,” says Kristiansen.

Trefadder: Tackling the climate crisis, one carbon forest at a time

Collaborating with the Government

In Norway, Trefadder has given talks at schools and universities on how nature-based solutions can address climate and environmental challenges. The company has received recognition from Norway’s Prime Minister and other leaders and the projects are grounded in state-supported research.

Trefadder even has a foothold in local politics. One of its employees, Tormod Wilson Losnedal, has recently been appointed mayor of Stavanger, a city located on the west coast of the country.

When well-managed, tree planting and forest conservation is highly successful in the fight against global warming. Kristiansen adds; “Think of the climate crisis as an overflowing bathtub: we need to both turn off the tap (reduce emissions) and pull the drain plug (remove CO₂ from the atmosphere). Tree planting is one of our best tools for this – when done correctly, with the right trees in stable locations, it’s an effective way to lower atmospheric CO₂.”

Trefadder: Tackling the climate crisis, one carbon forest at a time