Sustainable Christmas Trees

Pines and Needles and the Environment

• Pines and Needles uses British trees from sustainable forests - less air miles means reduced emissions!
• Pines and Needles only uses diesel fuel and is endeavouring to replace its delivery vans with electronic vehicles by 2012.
• 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.
• Pines and Needles warms its office in the chilly winter months using recycled heat in conjunction with neighbouring business 123 Cleaners (see www.123cleaners.com).

Pines and Needles is also a proud member of the British Christmas Tree Growers' Association. 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 herbicides or pesticides. Growers will have available for inspection any requirements under the COSSH Regulations and will guarantee that any use of chemicals will be in accordance with the current Pesticide regulations and will be the minimum necessary to deal with the particular problem.

• 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. The cycle of growing and harvesting Christmas Trees is particularly conducive to birdlife and no work will be done which will disturb nests or young birds.

• 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 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 will 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 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:

“I often say that one way to protect the environment is to choose renewable materials and energy wherever possible. Artificial trees are made from non-renewable plastics and petroleum-based products. Although some people claim that these trees last a lifetime, most are thrown away within nine years – and remain in landfill sites for centuries… The growing and production, use of and disposal of real Christmas trees could not be more sustainable and continues a tradition of thousands of years of decorating trees in mid winter and providing a focal point for the community, customer or family during the festive season.”