Sustainability and Recycling
Environmentally Friendly
Town Centre Trees cares about the environment and the effects our operation has upon it.
With this in mind we have found inovative ways to recycle over 95% of all the products we use to carry out our business
Read on to see how we achieve our lowest Carbon Footprint.
TCT Sustainability Project
Here at Town Centre Trees we care about the environment and the impact we are all having on the sustainability of our Planet.
For this reason we have produced this section to explain how we try to minimise our impact on the environment to help create the most sustainable Christmas possible with our products.
Interesting Facts about Christmas Trees
Did you know that over 8 million real Christmas trees are bought each year in the UK?
Anne Mari Cobb, certification officer at Soil Association Forestry, explains opting for a real tree over the festive period is the organisation’s recommended option.
“Real Christmas trees are a renewable resource that doesn’t result in pollution, if responsibly recycled or disposed of,”
Christmas trees have been a core part of Christmas traditions since the at least the 16th Century in Germany. Since they are so popular, it can be easy to overlook the impact they have on the environment.
The process of growing a Christmas tree to optimum height takes around 8 to 10 years.
During that time, they provide a habitat for wildlife and “naturally absorbs CO2 and release oxygen” back into the atmosphere.
The Woodland Trust states. When a Christmas tree is cut down, it is immediately replaced by another seedling, with up to 10 trees being planted for every 6-7ft tree that’s grown.
You also don’t need to worry about deforestation when purchasing a real tree:
Most Christmas trees are UK-grown as a horticultural crop and aren’t felled from pre-existing forests. And mostly on land unsuitable for any other crops. All Trees used by Town Centre Trees are UK Grown
Having all this information, we conclude that, as long as they do not come from logging in unspoilt forests and Recycled responsibly.
It is a better choice to get a real tree. It can then be collected and recycled in a responsible and Carbon friendly manner.
TCT Recycling and Disposal Policy
The way that you dispose of Christmas Trees can make a big difference to the environment.
Recycled trees are sometimes shredded into chippings which are then used locally in parks or woodland areas, making good use of the tree after you’ve finished with it. For a 2 metre tall real Christmas tree, with no roots, the carbon footprint is 16kg CO2e if it ends up in “Landfill”
Here at TCT we take recycling seriously and over the past 10 years we have partnered with two Major environmental Projects that both protect the environment and to provide a natural habitat for wildlife.
Project 1: Fylde Coast Dune Restoration (Fylde Borough Council)
Christmas trees can actually have a positive impact on the environment if you live near a beach.
Due to the fact that we are based on the seaside and near a beach, we recycle half of our Trees to Fylde Borough who then help fight erosion and restore the sand dunes by covering parts of the beach and dunes with the pine trees. The trees and their needles help in protecting the vegetation and sand from wind and water erosion. Besides, they provide cover for birds during winter months.
For more information about this Project please visit the link below
Project 2: Local Farm Wildlife Habitat
Helping to build new safe enviroments for Breeding Birds and other wildlife around the local Area
The other half of our Trees are sent to a local Farm, they are then spread out around the fields to produce a natural habitat for birds and wildlife, this also encourages the growth of the local wildlife population and gives shelter and protection due to the density of the Trees.
Both of these projects have been extremely successful over the past 10 years and will continue to help our local environment.
Brackets, Steelwork & fixings
The equipment we use for attaching of the Tree system to the property.
All our Steelwork is designed with Long Life in mind.
All our steelwork is manufactured by ourselves in our own facility with the highest quality materials to exacting standards, they are then fully Galvanised for longevity and weather protection.
It is not unreasonable for this equipment to last in excess of 20yrs+ and as such offsets the carbon footprint from manufacturing to 0%.
Should any of our Customers not require there Christmas Tree in the future.
All steelwork is removed from the property and re-fitted/utilised at new customers premises again reducing the overall carbon footprint and “whole Life” cost of the equipment.
When it’s all over. (January)
After we remove the Trees’, each and every bracket is inspected for any damage or problems suffered from that seasons use, any issues found are sent to the manufacturing department for rectification or repair.
All the equipment is then stored in a safe and dry container ready for use the following year.
Electrical and Lighting Systems
Keeeping the Festive season lit up
All our electrical and lighting systems are rigorously check each year for safety and serviceability.
All our lights use the latest LED technology helping to extend the lifetime usage over incandescent bulbs and reduce energy costs by up to 75%.
With our best intentions we aim to utilise the Light Strings and adaptors for as long as possible, on average approx. 3/4 yrs use. once any of the lights or electrical components reaches its “end of Life” including faulty components all products are 100% recycled through our local recycling centre.
this helps offset the carbon footprint of Manufacture and shipping cost