Environment

At Littlethorpe of Leicester Ltd., we take pride in producing sustainable and long lasting products from FSC® certified hardwood. The FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council®) is a not-for-profit organisation that recognises the importance of forests to our climate and wildlife, as well as the communities and inhabitants of those areas, and works hard to maintain them.

What does FSC® Certified mean?

(Photo courtesy of Precious Woods)

FSC® regulations ensure that all timber is accountable with a full paper trail, meaning that each piece of wood can be traced back to exactly where it came from. Regular audits are conducted to ensure compliance. This ability to know exactly where our materials are coming from gives peace of mind that they have been sourced in the most sustainable way possible.

Sourced in the most sustainable way possible

Being FSC® certified means that we are contributing to our forests across the globe in a number of incredibly valuable ways. Deforestation is a concern for a number of reasons, and there are many ways in which FSC® actions are helping to stop it.

Preventing Deforestation

There are many causes of deforestation, the most prominent being illegal logging, mining and agriculture (especially cattle farming and growing crops for animal feed). So not only are we ensuring that the timber we source is sustainably grown and harvested, but we are helping to protect those areas from being irresponsibly felled. FSC® management gives the forests commercial value, meaning that there is financial benefit to keeping the forest maintained, and this prevents it being destroyed for producing meat, mining or illegal logging, whilst supporting local workers and communities.

Supporting local workers and communities

By purchasing a hardwood shelter from Littlethorpe, you are ensuring that these areas of forest, and its wildlife and inhabitants, are being protected.

Read more about deforestation causes and impact here. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/deforestation/

Cutting Carbon

Possibly the biggest cause for concern in regards to deforestation is climate change. Trees absorb carbon and emit oxygen, therefore making them essential to life on our planet, and the destruction of our forests means the presence of more carbon in our atmosphere.

The careful management of forests by the FSC® ensures that carbon absorption is maintained and maximised. When a tree is harvested, it is at the peak of its ability to absorb CO2, the optimal time for harvest before this ability declines. A younger tree is then planted in its place, ensuring the amount of carbon being absorbed is maximised. The most carbon-efficient period of the trees’ lives is calculated, and the harvesting of the trees is organised so that it takes place throughout the duration of this period. This means that by the time the last tree is felled, the new trees that were planted at the beginning of the cycle will be ready for the next harvest. Not only does this method ensure that as much carbon as possible is being absorbed from the atmosphere, but it also means that the same areas of forest are continually being used, and there is never a need to expand and cause more deforestation.

Deforestation is never justified

Read more about our forests and how the FSC® protects them here. https://fsc.org/en/for-forests

Choosing a wooden shelter is a carbon conscious choice. When timber is cut, the carbon that was absorbed by that tree stays locked inside, and is only released when the wood decomposes or is burned. Our aim is to keep that carbon locked inside the wood for as long as possible, and this is why we create products with exceptional lifespans and guarantees.

This is only one way choosing a wooden shelter helps reduce carbon in the atmosphere; there is also the manufacturing process to consider.

Production of steel is one of the most energy consuming and CO2 emitting industries in the world, and three quarters of that energy required comes from burning coal. 1.83 tonnes of carbon is emitted for every tonne of steel produced, which equates to 3.3 million tonnes per year. Aluminium manufacture provides even more alarming figures, with the global average of carbon emissions per tonne of aluminium produced coming in at 11.5 tonnes. And in addition to the amounts of carbon being emitted into the atmosphere, the metal industries are also causing deforestation from mining raw materials, and creating waste that cannot be reused. Considering all of this, it is undeniable that manufacturing from FSC® certified wood the most environmentally mindful choice.

Manufacturing with wood prevents the carbon emissions that would be associated with manufacturing from metal

Read more about sustainability and circular economy here. https://www.bwf.org.uk/toolkit/environmental-waste-management/circular-economy/

Why buy from Littlethorpe?

At Littlethorpe, not only are we committed to being an environmentally friendly manufacturer through the ways in which we source our timber, but we also make efforts to keep our wastage and carbon footprint as low as possible. Our timber requirements are carefully calculated to ensure minimal waste, and all waste where possible is responsibly recycled.

The wood stains we use are all water based, as oil based stains are generally made from crude oil and contain high levels of VOCs. We also optimise deliveries, avoid unnecessary journeys, and encourage the use of local contractors for ground works, to keep our carbon footprint as low as we possibly can.

By purchasing from Littlethorpe, you are making a sustainable and environmentally conscious choice

There is always more we can be doing to protect our planet, and at Littlethorpe this is high on our priority list. We are always on the lookout for ways in which we can do more. By purchasing a hardwood shelter from Littlethorpe, you can be certain that you are making a sustainable and environmentally conscious choice.