Welcome to the Bols xmas Tree Fund's website

• What is the story behind Christmas trees?
• How are modern trees cultivated and prepared for the market?
• Why does the picture of Christmas jollity contrast so strongly with how the seeds are
collected?
• How can "Fair Trade" concepts be applied here, too?

This new Fund has been created to raise awareness about the awful living and working conditions of those who collect the cones and seeds which end up as Christmas trees.
There is a world of difference: the "first world" where the trees are sold to consumers, and the "‘third world" of those at the bottom of the supply chain.

Objective: improved conditions
By telling the story of Christmas tree production, the Bols Christmas Tree Fund strives to improve conditions for those people who collect the cones and seeds required to produce the Nordmann Christmas trees which are so prized around the world.

Source of seed
The seed used to produce the world's most sought-after Christmas trees originates in the Georgian Republic. In the region of Ambrolauri is a mountainous area called Tlugi where, because of the altitude and climate, the very best Nordmann fir trees grow. Every year, locals harvest the cones from these trees, providing the seed for the export market.

"All that glisters is not gold"
This whole region of Georgia is grossly underdeveloped. The local cone pickers, with little choice of occupation, live in appalling conditions. They risk their lives daily by climbing tall trees at high altitudes and by jumping from one tree to another. This year, Fair Trees implemented the unprecedented requirement that all cone pickers use climbing equipment from harvest 2008 – which will be provided free. Not so long ago, two cone pickers – from another area and workforce – were killed during the harvest when they fell out of trees.

Significant discrepancy
There is a great and obvious gap between the awful living conditions of the workers and the lavish Christmas enjoyed by the majority of Western Europeans. In Europe alone untold additional millions of euros are spent each year just on the Christmas festivities. The vast majority of those purchasing Christmas trees give no thought to the fact that it is these poor cone pickers from Georgia who, through their tremendous efforts, create the basis for Christmas tree production.

Investment in people ...
Thousands of kilos of seeds are collected at each harvest, which is the prime source of income for the forest workers in Ambrolauri. Fair Trees supports these people through the Fund by depositing €10 for every kilo of Tlugi seed that is exported and sold through their company ... a concrete step both in improving working and living conditions and creating a market for branded "Fair Trade" Christmas trees.

How to make your personal contribution
When you or your company buy seed harvested and exported according to these conditions, you will automatically be contributing to the Christmas Tree Fund. And, you will receive an attractive Certificate which you may use as part of your marketing activities.

Consumer consciousness
We, as buyers, feel committed to support the development of this Georgian region. This area in particular is desperately in need of such aid in order to establish even basic services such as schools, hospitals, libraries and advanced education possibilities.

A call for support
You are invited to make your contribution to help, and through our voluntary contributed efforts raise the aid necessary for this region's development. It is all too easy just to think of ourselves on Christmas Eve. Yet consider how much more we could enjoy the Christmas period with a sense of pride and a clear conscience, in the knowledge of a positive contribution to those that make that symbol of Christmas – the tree – a reality. And that we as buyers of Christmas trees can make a difference by taking responsibility for the conditions of those we work in partnership with. With such an attitude we can make a difference for the hardworking people in the region of Georgia, the true Christmas tree heroes.