FAQ

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What´s a Treefluencer?
It´s like being a brand ambassador. The only difference is that you are both helping us to grow and trees to grow. For each sold towel we will plant trees mainly in the southern hemisphere, for example in Tanzania, Africa or in Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.

Why should I participate?
Good Question! We want you to be part of the resource positive textile revolution. We believe that the only way to stop climate change is by offering consumers superior benefits that derive from truly organic materials and by setting a trend in the industry that big cooperation’s can´t ignore. It should become standard to buy products that are produced carbon negative or even resource positive, like the Kushel Towel.

What's meant by carbon negative and resource positive?
By buying a Kushel Towel you give back more resources to the planet than we took to produce it. The main material of our towels is organic cotton that grows with less water usage and beechwood fibers from sustainably managed forests in Europe. We compensate the carbon (energy) and blue-water footprint of the towel production with Gold Standard carbon offset projects and water projects. Additionally, to the carbon and blue-water neutral production and the climate neutral shipping, we plant trees with renown institutions. By buying a Kushel Towel you actually have a resource positive impact on Mother Nature.

How can planting trees help to slow down climate change?
Trees store a huge amount of carbon dioxide within their lifetime and help to cool down the planet by lowering air temperature as they provide shade. The tree roots stabilizes the soil, prevents erosion and increases water penetration. 

Why are trees so important for our ecosystem?
We are not the only animals living on this Planet, and for many of them, trees are their one and only home. There are some trees that can house nearly 500 different species! Trees provide habitation and food to wide arrays of birds, insects, lichen and fungi. Even trees that provide less food sources will still give shelter for some species, such as bats and owls. Trees improve biodiversity while creating sustainable sources of crop shade, soil rehabilitation, food, windbreaks, mudslide control and more for communities that need them.

How do you assure the trees won’t be cut down?
Catchy question! Depending on the area and use-case, trees can be cut down after a few years for economic reasons, like using the wood for furniture. These trees will be typically reforested, also for economic reasons. The most important aspect is that the wood will not get burnt at a certain point. We therefore only select partners that focus on planting trees in a context of long-term-usage, like the idea of a forest garden that sustains crops and employment for farmers in Africa.

How can you assure the seedlings grow to big trees?
From the nurseries, the plants and baby trees are transplanted into fields where farmers continue to cultivate and evolve their land and benefit from their improved soil and recurring crop yields. Farmers are educated online and on-site by our partners about agroforestry and other sustainable farming techniques. A seed that is given to farmers and then planted in forest gardens has higher documented success rate, than wild planting.

Why do farmers in Tanzania need trees?
Trees provide shade and natural fertilizers for plants, which feeds their families, their livestock and become a source of income to many families. By providing a sustainable resource of income, trees are able to improve the overall quality of life of indigenous people in developing countries. By helping farmers to plant specific types of fast-growing trees, fruit trees, hardwoods and food crops in a systematic manner over a four-year period, the forest garden approach gives the farmer a sense of ownership and pride, which is important for long-term lifespan of a tree.

How do farmers profit from planting trees?
Planting, managing or owning trees results in sustainable employment. The beneficial effect of cultivating trees results in saving costs on food, fertilizer, animal fodder and If they harvest a surplus of any of these, they can sell them to make profit. 

How do you choose the location and tree-planting partners?
The main criteria for us is the species diversity and the lifespan of the trees. Our current partners are Klimapaten Pflanzaktion, Plant for the Planet and Trees for the future, organisations that share our mission to give back more to the earth than we take from it.

How much is the ecological and economical value of one tree?
To be honest, we don’t know. Most of the trees planted are not meant for giving food or to be cut and sold for direct material gain, the indirect value for the people and the environment is complicated to determine. That’s why we plant trees and neutralize our production with Gold Standard carbon offset and water projects.

How soon and where do you plant trees?
Better late than never! We will plant your trees within a 6 month period after your purchase. Depending on the planting season our partners plant the trees in Tanzania, Mexico or Germany. We will cover our planting effort via social media and on our website. These trees help restore the environment, reduce the impact of climate change and create a greener earth for future generations.

Can you provide proof of planting?
We account every planting and you can contact any of our partners and verify with them that our contributions, both financial and in person, have been made.

What’s the goal, how much trees can we plant together?
As we establish a carbon and blue-water neutral production, we will be resource positive by planting the first tree. Because we plant trees every time you purchase one of our super cosy environmental-friendly towels, there is no specific goal - the more the better. Check out this video by the Crowther Lab from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich that states that there is enough space on earth for more than 1.3 trillion trees. Let's do this!

 last changed 01.09.2018 - Jim