Here is a list of the measures we take to ensure that we play our part in helping the planet:
Pines and Needles is carbon positive for most of the year as our trees absorb Carbon and emit Oxygen. During the Christmas season Pines and Needles is Carbon Neutral as any emissions from transportation and delivery vehicles is offset by the trees still growing in our plantations.
- We mainly use British trees from sustainable forests - less air and land miles means reduced emissions!
- Pines and Needles mainly uses diesel fuel and has several LPG vans, but is endeavouring to replace its delivery vans with electronic vehicles.
- Increasingly Pines and Needles is switching to organically-grown trees. Pesticides can upset the balance of fragile ecosystems.
- Wherever possible we encourage the use of power-saving LED lights as these use a fraction of the cost of incandescent bulbs.
Pines and Needles is also a proud member of the British Christmas Tree Growers' Association. Members of the BCTGA cultivate well shaped and sturdy trees specially for the Christmas festivities. All members of the BCTGA have to conform to strict standards in sustainability; such as:
SEED
Only sources which are sustainable and do not present any threat to endangered species are used.
PLANTED AREA
The area of land used for the cultivation of Christmas Trees is subjected to a survey on environmental; ecological or archaeological impact.
CULTIVATION OF TREES
The growing of trees will be done in accordance with the best practice indicated by research in this country and overseas.
CHEMICALS
The British Christmas Tree Growers Association will commission and encourage research into methods of dealing with pests and disease which reduce or eliminate the need to use chemical.
WILDLIFE
Christmas Trees provide an excellent habitat for many bird species. British Christmas Tree Growers take account of the habitats of these birds in the cultivation of their trees.
HARVESTING
- The cutting of Christmas trees is done in winter and has little or no effect on breeding or disturbance of wildlife. Trees will be harvested and handled to ensure maximum freshness for the purchaser.
- Did you know that each tree took 7 years to grow to 2 metres and during that time was helping the world breath? Real Christmas trees absorb carbon dioxide pollutants from the air around us and convert it into carbon – which makes up the tree – and oxygen which it puts out into the atmosphere. It is estimated that each acre of Christmas trees gives off enough oxygen each to meet the needs of 16 people.
- After you, your family and your fellow citizens have enjoyed your tree, it can be recycled. It can be chipped into mulch or used for park footpaths or bridleways. It can increasingly be used as a renewable fuel, because every tree used at Christmas is replaced with a new seedling in the spring of the next year.
Thinking of getting an Artificial Christmas Tree this year to help protect the environment? Think again! Natural trees use ten times less basic materials to produce and five times less energy. Their CO2 emission is four times lower and all waste is reusable. (Study in Holland Hekhuis, J.M. 1998). But don’t just take our word for it, here’s what Dr. Patrick Moore, founder of Greenpeace has to say about the issue:
