#onebrushonetree Mission Update and a big milestone: 73,232 trees planted, which together sequester 1.5 million kilograms of carbon dioxide every year
73,232 Trees Planted = 1.5 million kilograms CO2 absorbed per year
We are delighted to celebrate a significant milestone in our one brush = one tree reforestation mission. As of July 2023, we have planted 73,232 trees around the world with our partners Eden Reforestation Projects. As each tree sequesters approximately 20 kilograms of carbon dioxide a year, this means an incredible 1.5 MILLION KILOGRAMS of carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere - every year!
BAMWOO's One Brush One Tree Mission
BAMWOO was founded with the goal to make a positive difference in the world. Partly through the reduction in plastic and plastic waste of using bamboo toothbrushes, and partly through our One Brush = One Tree mission. For every bamboo toothbrush, interdental brush or other product sold, we pledge to plant a tree.
Our partnership with Eden Reforestation Projects has been instrumental in realising this mission on a large scale. Eden is a renowned non-profit organisation focused on using reforestation work in ecologically sensitive areas and developing countries as a tool to counter climate change and to alleviate poverty in vulnerable communities.Photosynthesis and the Environmental Impact of 73,232 Trees Planted - 1.5 Million Kilograms of CO2 Sequestration per Year
One of the most significant outcomes of our reforestation efforts is the impressive amount of carbon dioxide the trees absorb - or sequester - annually.
Trees are nature's very own carbon sinks. They absorb carbon dioxide through a natural process known as photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is a vital biochemical reaction that occurs in the chloroplasts of plant cells, including the leaves of trees. The process can be summarized in the following steps:
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Carbon Dioxide Uptake: Trees have tiny pores on their leaves called stomata, which allow them to take in carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air.
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Water Absorption: Trees also absorb water from the ground through their roots. Water is essential for the photosynthesis process as it provides the hydrogen atoms necessary for converting carbon dioxide into glucose.
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Chlorophyll Absorption: Inside the chloroplasts of the leaves, there is a green pigment called chlorophyll. Chlorophyll plays a crucial role in capturing light energy from the sun.
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Photosynthesis: With carbon dioxide and water in hand, the tree's leaves use sunlight as an energy source to drive the photosynthesis process. During photosynthesis, carbon dioxide and water are combined to produce glucose (a simple sugar) and oxygen as a byproduct.
The balanced chemical equation for photosynthesis can be represented as:
6 CO2 + 6 H2O + light energy → C6H12O6 (glucose) + 6 O2
The glucose produced during photosynthesis serves as a source of energy for the tree's growth and various metabolic processes. Some of this glucose is used immediately, while the excess is converted into more complex carbohydrates like cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. These compounds are the primary building blocks of plant tissues, such as the trunk, branches, and roots.
The carbon from carbon dioxide is effectively "captured" in the tree's tissues. This process is referred to as carbon sequestration. As trees grow and mature, they continue to store more carbon in their biomass, thus acting as "carbon sinks" that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it for the lifetime of the tree.
On average, and depending on species and local environmental conditions, a tree can sequester 20 to 60 kilograms (44 to 133 lbs) of carbon a year, though some trees can absorb much more. Mangroves - which we helped to plant in places like Madagascar and Indonesia - can absorb an incredible 500-2000 kilograms of CO2 a year!
If we take the numbers on the conservative end of this scale, the 73,232 trees we have planted now each sequester 20kg of carbon annually, totalling an incredible 1.5 million kilograms sequestered each and every year moving forward.
Nurturing Biodiversity and Empowering Communities
The positive consequences of our tree-planting initiative go far beyond 'just' carbon sequestration. Our reforestation projects have helped revive vulnerable ecosystems, providing safe havens for wildlife, promoting ecological balance, stabilising soil, improving conditions for agriculture, providing sustainable resources to ensure the livelihoods of local communities, and developing natural 'buffers' to natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis.
Furthermore, the actual tree planting work provides employment and new opportunities for local people. For example, thanks to the reforestation work, the parents at our Nepal projects are now able to send their children to school rather than work.
Our #onebrushonetree mission has funded 723 days of paid employment to plant the 72,323 trees.
Help us to plant more trees by supporting our One Brush = One Tree mission
Reaching this milestone of over 70k trees planted and 1.5m kg CO2/year sequestered has only been possible thanks to the support of our amazing customers, who have funded the work with every bamboo toothbrush bought and sold.
If you would like to support us in continuing our mission, please check out our range of bamboo toothbrushes, year's supply packs, bamboo interdental brushes, and ceramic toothbrush holders. We pledge to continue planting one tree for every product sold!