![\"\"](\"https:\/\/images.teemill.com\/uqaexhyc5wyefbvujs2bhv7m0zwntug11nkj9vc5pdh8i6l0.jpeg.jpeg?w=1140&v=2\" "\\"60253579\\"")
<\/p><\/p>
Now and again we have a Buy One, Get One Tree weekend at Goathouse - or Green Friday. This means that when you place an order over that weekend, we plant a tree.<\/p>
We wanted to tell you a bit more about this. Find out what happens when you buy from our shop on one of these special weekends\u2026<\/p>
But first, why do we need to plant trees in the first place?<\/p>
If you\u2019ve watched the BBC programme Extinction: The Facts<\/a>, you\u2019ll have seen David Attenborough talk about how the things that we humans are doing to the planet is devastating the natural world, affecting the climate of our planet, and threatening biodiversity putting millions of plants and animals (including us) at risk. According to the UN, the main cause of biodiversity loss is the destruction of natural habitats.<\/p> Tree planting is seen as one of the most environmentally friendly activities that people can take part in to help better the planet. Trees provide many benefits, both long and short term:<\/p> Trees can have a strong climate change mitigation effect. They help to remove and store carbon from the atmosphere. They can also clean the air, and help to absorb odours and pollutants.<\/p><\/li> In addition, they can slow the damage caused by heavy rain and reduce the risk of flooding and of land erosion which can cause real problems for communities and farmers alike, and enhance soil conditions.<\/p><\/li> Trees can mitigate periods of extreme heat by reflecting sunlight and providing shade. They also encourage biodiversity, creating a habitat for many wildlife species. Some trees also provide food and increase the numbers of pollinators which are essential to grow crops.<\/p><\/li> Trees also have a positive impact on mental health and wellbeing and they are pretty amazing to look at too.<\/p><\/li><\/ul> Who doesn't like a tree?<\/p> The nice people at Teemill, who do the printing and despatching of our products, are as keen on sustainability as we are.<\/p> \"Instead of making more things and hoping for change, we exist to change the way things are made. That's what sustainability means to us.\" Teemill<\/p><\/blockquote> Basically, for every order that comes through to them from our shop (or from the other shops that they supply) Teemill will fund the planting of a tree.<\/p> They count up the orders and send money to partners to pay for the planting.<\/p> Teemill involve various tree-planting projects and organisations to make sure the planting is as effective as possible.<\/p> The focus is on maintaining natural biodiversity and combating deforestation, working in areas where the trees are needed the most. So far, most funding has contributed to reforesting large areas of Madagascar.<\/p> Teemill tell us that since Buy One Get One Tree first started, the sales made by all the shops using their services has led to the planting of over 17 hectares of trees - that's around 21 football pitches worth of reforesting. That\u2019s a significant amount of trees. And the plan is for many more.<\/p> The reforesting is making a real difference to diversifying and restoring the natural balance of nature, preserving the environment for native species and ecosystems. It also helps to keep the Madagascan coast line stable. And the project is providing long-term employment to local workers and so improving the livelihood for local communities.<\/p> It\u2019s easy to be part of this initiative. To get involved all you need to do is keep an eye on when we have a special Buy One Get One Tree weekend and then place an order between 9.00am on the Friday and midnight on the Sunday. It doesn\u2019t matter what you buy - if you order a single tote bag, it\u2019ll still mean a tree is planted as a result.<\/p> Simples. As the meerkats of Madagascar might say.<\/p> Getting trees planted is just one of the things that we do to reduce our impact on the environment.<\/p> It is widely acknowledged that the fashion industry is a real culprit when it comes to climate change yet people obviously still need to wear clothes. So that makes it really important that people are buying the right type of clothes - clothes that are produced with consideration of the environment. This includes the way they are produced and delivered. And what happens to them when they\u2019ve outlived their usefulness.<\/p> That\u2019s why we work with a supplier who supports what we want to do to ensure minimal impact on the environment:<\/p> Our products are made from 100% certified organic cotton.<\/p><\/li> Everything, including packaging is made from natural materials.<\/p><\/li> We don\u2019t do plastic. Any of it.<\/p><\/li> We use renewable energy to produce our products.<\/p><\/li> We aim to only make what people need, when they need it so there is no stock wastage.<\/p><\/li> Every product made is designed to be sent back to us when it is worn out - and new products can be made from the material including more t-shirts and paper products.<\/p><\/li><\/ul> If you are ready to shop differently and take a stand in support of the environment, take a look at our shop for all our sustainably-produced products<\/a>.<\/p> Read more about our commitment to sustainable sourcing<\/a>.<\/p> Find out more about why organic cotton is so much better for the environment than non-organic<\/a>.<\/p> Find out more about trees courtesy of the Woodland Trust<\/a>.<\/p> Learn more about climate change on the NASA website.<\/a><\/p>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/images.teemill.com\/L4G6VnrzqgAKmFFFnqaChuvunaP00Y0yXYtueSIoy8w0K8Ge.png.jpg?w=1140&h=auto\" "\\"60253561\\"")
Image by Theme Inn\/Unsplash<\/em><\/p>How does Goathouse tree planting work?<\/h2>
Who does the planting? Where are the trees planted?<\/h2>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/images.teemill.com\/Qd9lYTzRs0YqYpIJAagu88vyFFTzqXCKSQzTMnB0YIo8EmtS.png.jpg?w=1140&h=auto\" "\\"60253509\\"")
Image by Mathieu Neuilly\/Unsplash<\/em><\/p>What good does this Madagasca tree planting do?<\/h2>
How you can help us help plant trees<\/h2>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/images.teemill.com\/vKTJN6JgyIMxmkTHyGwJx4mD4bwTcRWiTuTZ2oZiZ04dobKd.png.jpg?w=1140&h=auto\" "\\"60253234\\"")
Image by Tarryn Myburgh\/Unsplash<\/em><\/p>
<\/p>What else are we doing to help reduce the impact on the environment?<\/h2>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/images.teemill.com\/qoB0nIm2lTjs4aWrffztHUQ0DhPKSlseyW4ClJn7c7rZzT1t.png.jpg?w=1140&h=auto\" "\\"60253216\\"")
Image Mariana Proen\u00e7a\/Unsplash<\/em><\/p>What next?<\/h2>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/images.teemill.com\/GSOE7BMDvP0T55BDhvTmAOClHHY1h4Sr4EfeHwoJ1b4JOXgr.png.jpg?w=1140&h=auto\" "\\"60251747\\"")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/images.teemill.com\/sAfEAccWucmxWnjph1LRy4hzAA8SJApGwzzyrUPSDUe8wLEW.png.jpg?w=1140&h=auto\" "\\"60299148\\"")