Mr. Tran Nam - an office worker in Hanoi - recounted a memory that changed his perspective: "On the first day I took a new job, the company gave me a small pot of silver metal with the wish "Wishing you a prosperous life".
Three years later, the tree is still green on the desk and every time I see it, I remember the feeling of being welcomed that day. A gift of living like that makes me feel more responsible, not only for the trees but also for the surrounding environment. It turns out that my company has replaced flowers with trees for many years and all employees are very happy about this.
For many years, fresh flowers have been almost the default choice for celebrations, opening, expressing gratitude to partners... However, most of those bouquets of flowers are only brilliant for a few days and then thrown away, causing waste. In addition, bouquets of flowers often come with nylon and flower foam.
As the trend of sustainable development, "green culture" and ESG (environment - society - governance) spreads, many Vietnamese businesses have begun to look back at that seemingly small habit. In recent years, the trend of "giving trees instead of flowers" has appeared in internal events, anniversaries, and even on customer congratulations and gratitude occasions.
This trend does not stop at the environmental aspect, but also shows a change in corporate cultural thinking. Today's gift not only needs to be beautiful, but also needs to be "s senseful", "responsible". A small pot of plants on the desks can remind each employee of the spirit of thrift, environmental protection, and more importantly - of the long-term attachment between humans and nature.
It is undeniable that flowers are still aesthetic and emotional gift. But in the era of climate change and environmental crisis, a gift that lives like a tree carries a deeper message. It evokes responsibility towards the environment, connects people with nature and conveys the humane message: "Each gift is a life sent".
Many businesses today have even been more creative in turning tree gifts into community activities. There are businesses that implement the program "Give a tree to receive a smile" - each customer receives a small pot of a tree, the company will plant an additional tree in the field. Some places also use QR codes attached to the potted plant to let recipients follow the forest planting journey that they have contributed.
Giving trees to replace flowers is not only a temporary trend - but a manifestation of a corporate culture that knows how to live with nature and social responsibility. In the era of greening, green transformation and sustainable development campaigns, sometimes just a small pot of trees - given away properly, is enough to become a symbol of a big mindset: Business for people and for the environment around.
