Every year some 5 million Nordmann Fir trees are sold in the UK. Traditionally the trees come from Denmark but more are being grown in Britain. But, most of the seedlings come from the natural forests of Georgia by poorly paid workers often working with no safety equipment.
The cone gatherers scale the fir trees in Georgia – up to 30 metres in height – to pick the cones from which the seeds are extracted. They do this with no ropes or other safety gear resulting in many injuries or deaths. The seeds are picked from the cone and sold through a corrupt and murky auction system controlled by the government.
But, there is a firm, based in Denmakr, that have now taken on this male dominated industry to provide a fairer wage and better working conditions. They managed to obtain a licence to harvest seeds and is now able to provide the workers with a fair wage, safety equipment, training and insurance cover. They set up a Fair Trees project to raise funds and help raise awareness of the conditions these people work under. Part of the project is also aimed at garden centres and major retailers to consider ethical issues more closely when sourcing their Xmas trees.
So, when you go shopping for your “real” tree this year, ask your supplier where it comes from.
