American Forests, Casey Trees and Ward 8 Woods volunteers plant trees, pick up trash and remove invasive plants at Bald Eagle Recreation Center in Washington, D.C. during a fall 2022 planting event sponsored by ZYRTEC®.

American Forests, Casey Trees and Ward 8 Woods volunteers plant trees, pick up trash and remove invasive plants at Bald Eagle Recreation Center in Washington, D.C. during a fall 2022 planting event sponsored by ZYRTEC®.
Photo Credit: Bryan Dozier / American Forests

TREES ARE ESSENTIAL to human health. They filter the air we breathe and the water we drink. They cool our communities by decreasing surface temperatures and providing life-saving shade. But ask any allergy sufferer how they feel about trees and pollen, and you may be met with some skepticism about planting more.

Enter ZYRTEC®, a trusted allergy brand that knows all about the potential perils of pollen. ZYRTEC® and American Forests have a common mission: healthier and happier people and planet. In support of this, ZYRTEC® is committed to creating initiatives that help maintain and establish life-saving infrastructures, like trees.

Jenn Lovell, head of U.S. Allergy, who leads the adult and children’s ZYRTEC® and Benadryl® businesses, says the brand maintains that all people should have access to the benefits of such initiatives and infrastructures. “An ideal future to us is people from all backgrounds having equitable access to resources that help provide a healthier planet and healthier lives. Climate change continues to impact our planet and allergy sufferers as well — we want to do our part.”

Research reveals that higher temperatures and fewer frost days are resulting in a more intense and extended allergy season, up to 20 days longer than decades ago. A natural way to help curb rising temperatures is by planting trees.

“ZYRTEC® identified an important need to extend relief beyond our products and bring relief to communities and the planet,” says Lovell.

ZYRTEC® first partnered with American Forests in 2022 to support Tree Equity in three key cities: Phoenix, Detroit and Washington, D.C. Recognizing the correlation among trees, allergies and the wellbeing of communities, ZYRTEC® made a commitment to invest in trees in the areas that need them most. Through the creation of the ZYRTEC® ReLEAF Project, the brand formalized a multi-year commitment to fund American Forests’ research and help advance Tree Equity. In 2023, the project is focused on Detroit.

In Detroit, dubbed the epicenter of childhood asthma in Michigan, arborists and crews who plant trees must take special consideration to mitigate the potential impacts of tree pollen on those prone to respiratory distress.

How do we push forward in our work to plant more trees without causing additional stress to vulnerable populations? The answer is a reliance on research, community engagement and strategic partnerships.

“At American Forests, we lead with data and science,” explains Jenni Shockling, senior manager of urban forestry in Detroit. “We use resources like the Ogren Plant Allergy Scale (OPALS™) to help inform species selections.”

For example, OPALS™ indicates that mulberry trees produce a lot of pollen that trigger seasonal allergies, while maple trees are classified as better for allergy-sufferers. With some species, research indicates that selecting a female is the most allergy-friendly option.

In addition to relying on research, American Forests listens to the communities in which it plants. When residents express concern about tree pollen and allergies, urban foresters and planting partners will either select more allergy-friendly species or will not plant trees directly in front of their homes. American Forests also provides education on what times of year trees produce pollen and how to use resources, like the ZYRTEC® AllergyCast App, to identify high-pollen days. Armed with this information, residents can take preventive actions like shutting windows to reduce pollen exposure.

American Forests President and CEO Jad Daley stands with social media influencer Ayana Bailey and her son at a ZYRTEC®-sponsored planting in Washington, D.C. By engaging influencers and celebrities, ZYRTEC® hopes to elevate the issue of Tree Equity and get others involved.

American Forests President and CEO Jad Daley stands with social media influencer Ayana Bailey and her son at a ZYRTEC®-sponsored planting in Washington, D.C. By engaging influencers and celebrities, ZYRTEC® hopes to elevate the issue of Tree Equity and get others involved.
Photo Credit: Bryan Dozier / American Forests

So far, the support from ZYRTEC® has enabled the planting of 166 trees. In the next 20 years, it is estimated that those trees will capture and store 250,474 pounds of carbon and cool surrounding air by up to 9 degrees Fahrenheit. What’s more, by engaging influencers and celebrities, ZYRTEC® hopes to elevate the issue of Tree Equity and get others involved.

“The issue of Tree Equity is not necessarily widely known,” says Lovell. “We are hopeful that by sharing more information on the need and impact of American Forests’ Tree Equity work, we can educate individuals and potentially get more organizations involved.”