Racks4Roots

Growing a Forest. One Rack at a Time.

One tree for every rack. Every year.

Healthy digital ecosystems rely on healthy natural ecosystems. Being a data center operator, we want to make that connection tangible because we know: we are part of one of the most energy-intensive industries out there.

And let’s be honest – simply meeting legal requirements isn’t enough. That’s why we have decided to give something back to the environment and take action. Together with our customers and partners. Together with you.

For every rack operated at EMC Home of Data, we plant one tree – every single year.

Many of our customers and partners joined the initiative – and you can too!

 

Upcoming Team Planting Events 2026

  • Wednesday, 22.04.26
  • Thursday, 21.05.26
  • Thursday, 25.06.26
  • Thursday, 16.07.26
  • Wednesday, 18.11.26

This is how you can become part of Racks4Roots:

1 – Fund tree seedlings

Join the Racks4Roots initiative by supporting our annual protection-forest planting through the financing of tree seedlings. Whether or not you join a planting event in person, your contribution strengthens the regional environment.

€8 per tree

Popular equivalents: one tree per rack/employee/customer/sale, etc.

2 - Spread the word

You’ll receive a planting certificate and a Racks4Roots logo badge for your communications.
Share your involvement – and don’t forget to explicitly involve your customers and partners. A joint planting event is a great way to strengthen customer, employee, and partner relationships.

3 - (optional) Join the team event in person

Choose a planting date and get hands-on under the guidance of SDW Bayern’s forestry experts – with employees, customers, or partners.

€35 per participant

What to expect from the event?
We meet in a forest area in need of support — and we support (plant).
Afterwards, we wrap up the day together at a local inn.
Sounds like a lovely day? It is!

Where we plant – and why

Since 2021, we’ve planted around 75,000 trees across various forest areas in Southern Bavaria whose current tree populations can no longer sustain themselves. These forests are not only recreational spaces — they play a crucial role in our regional ecosystem, local climate, and, in some areas, serve as protection forests for surrounding communities.

One of our primary planting areas is located at Spitzingsee (Markt Schliersee), where we also host group planting events.

All locations are selected by forest-protection experts:
Schutzgemeinschaft Deutscher Wald Bayern e.V.*

How a Racks4Roots planting works

You choose one of our scheduled planting dates or pick your own date (requires at least 25 participants) – and we take care of the rest.
On site, our team and the Schutzgemeinschaft Deutscher Wald Bayern welcome you with all necessary equipment and insights into the forest we’re restoring. After a short introduction, planting begins under professional guidance.

If you wish, the day concludes with a shared meal.
The rest of the afternoon is free for your own team activities in the beautiful surroundings.

Over 50 companies have joined Racks4Roots

  • DE-CIX
  • E-Norm
  • Elektro Köberle
  • Sapotec
  • Steinbach
  • TRANE-Roggenkamp

Combine team building, customer and partner engagement, and regional environmental protection with true corporate responsibility.

Get in touch

How Racks4Roots started. And what it has become.

Racks4Roots was launched in 2021 as part of our CSR program with a clear mission:
to give something back to the environment – by planting one tree for every rack operated on our campus. These are the “campus rack trees” that gave the project its name. But Racks4Roots grew – thanks to many customers and partners who said „This is great! I want do join!“.

In 2023, this growth led to the founding of The Response, a non-profit organization that is in charge of Racks4Roots now and opened to opportunity to raise fundings for our local environment.

* About Schutzgemeinschaft Deutscher Wald Bayern

Racks4Roots was created in close cooperation with the Schutzgemeinschaft Deutscher Wald (SDW). Founded in 1947, SDW is Germany’s oldest forest-conservation initiative and officially recognized as a nature-protection organization. Today, SDW has around 25,000 members who contribute to the development and preservation of numerous forest and conservation projects each year.

Tree selection follows strict ecological criteria, with a strong focus on biodiversity. The result: climate-resilient mixed forests that withstand external influences and preserve habitats for a wide variety of plant and animal species.

“Storms and heavy rainfall have caused visible damage to mountain forests in parts of the Alps. We need to act quickly and introduce tree species that can fill these gaps and stabilize the forest. Only through private-sector engagement we can successfully transform Bavaria’s forests into resilient, future-proof ecosystems.”

S. Tangerding, Geschäftsführer Schutzgemeinschaft Deutscher Wald

Support Racks4Roots

Everyone can make a difference. If you’d like to learn more about the project or support Racks4Roots directly, simply reach out to us using the contact form.

Thank you!

 

EMC Home of Data GmbH

Elisabeth-Selbert-Str. 7 · D-80939 Munich
Tel.: 089 30 90 580-0 ·