For 2021, our Centenary year, what better way to mark this incredible milestone and celebrate Weleda’s 100 year history, whilst simultaneously looking to the future, than to plant a Weleda forest in collaboration with the environmental charity TreeSisters. The aim of this long-term project is to plant one million trees to combat climate change.
The Weleda vision is to plant a magnificent forest of trees. Not a single location but a forest of a million trees planted around the world where trees are needed most urgently - to reclaim endangered rainforest, prevent flooding or soil erosion, protect natural habitats, support local communities in some of the poorest countries in the world, and empower women in the workplace. TreeSisters funds tropical reforestation projects globally with a focus on initiatives either run by women or supporting women around the world.
Over 150,000 trees have now been planted, and the forest keeps growing!
Click here to add a tree to your order
We have now been joined by Weleda Australia who will be supporting our tree planting pledge this year, so we can populate the Weleda forest even faster!
David Johnston, Managing Director of Weleda Australia, explained:
“Planting trees is such a basic, yet much needed action to balance the massive loss of trees worldwide. We couldn’t be more excited to be joining forces with our Weleda family around the world, to reach our goal of planting a Weleda forest of one million trees. Everyone in our company is passionate about this partnership and feels good knowing that our products support communities and help restore nature”.
Over the coming months we will be engaging both customers and retailers with the idea of supporting the Weleda Forest project with various initiatives that will plant trees as a way of giving back.
Jayn Sterland, Managing Director of Weleda UK, added:
“Tree planting is one of the most symbolic of actions – one we often choose to mark a special occasion, to remember a loved one, to commemorate the past, or look to the future by putting down roots and future growth. Funding the planting of trees is a way to invest in ourselves. Our forests are being destroyed through devastating forest fires caused by increasing temperatures in this climate emergency. Even a small donation of as little as 50p will ultimately help reforest our future.”
Trees are invaluable to Weleda wellbeing products: a source of precious ingredients - from birch leaf extract, leaf oil from silver fir needles, willow bark and horse chestnut bark extracts, myrrh resin extract, apricot and almond seed oil from organic orchards, lemon peel oil from Mediterranean citrus groves, nut oil from argan forests, the buttery goodness extracted from the nut of the Shea tree or coconut palm, to fruit from sloe berries or blossom extract from blackthorn trees.
Not forgetting the vital part that the forests play as homes for the tree hives in Ethiopia where Weleda sources its organic beeswax. Or the shelter and shade created by the myriad of trees and hedgerows in Weleda’s biodynamic herb gardens that provide refuge for pollinators and actively encourage a vibrant biodiversity at Weleda’s growing sites.
In 2020, we recognised that many of us would be looking for gifts that are ethically sourced, sustainable, with minimal packaging or waste, and ideally gifts that give back. Which is why we created a collection of Christmas gifts in partnership with TreeSisters. Every gift purchased helped fund the planting of tropical trees, sequestering carbon and directly replenishing the world’s forests. In total, our ethical gifts ensured 47,255 trees were be planted.
#plantaweledaforest #reforestourfuture #youarenature #healthymehealthytree
“We exist to rebuild our relationship between people and nature. Our uniqueness as an environmental organisation is that we are combination of women’s work and empowerment and consciousness shift and measurable ecological restoration.
“When you give to TreeSisters you are growing forest corridors between the last remaining fragments of the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest, restoring vital territories for some of our most endangered species. You are growing buffer zone community forests in Nepal to help protect the last 7% of what was once verdant Jhapa canopy forest, and restoring ancient cloud forest in one of the most biodiverse regions in Northeast India, while restoring soil fertility through agroforestry in the drought plagued South. In Madagascar you are helping men and women out of indentured slavery as they become foresters, restoring both the Mangrove forest that protects their coasts and rehabilitates fish stocks, and the inland forests that house some of the most endangered species of indigenous Lima. In Africa you are restoring rivers, streams and groundwater by reforesting the slopes of Mount Kenya that are so critical for agriculture. And you are growing a protective buffer of forest around the last 250 Cross River gorillas in Cameroon.
“Climate change is not a spectator sport – it’s time for all of us to get off the bench and start playing this game, to make a difference.”
Claire Dubois, Founder, Tree Sisters
https://treesisters.org/grow-your-own-forest