For the environmentally conscious consumer, navigating often confusing information about the sustainability of different products can be a minefield. In the supermarket we are bombarded by different certification labels and choices between local produce or plastic free.

The truth of it is that there is never a simple answer when it comes to consumption choices. In the same way, it is not possible to lump all treehouses into the same sustainability category.

That said, at Treetop Co we are committed to ensuring that our treehouses have as little environmental impact as possible.

In this blog we take you through some of the steps we take to make our treehouses as sustainable as possible.

It all starts with good foundations

Or lack of them! One of the most carbon intensive features of any building is its embedded concrete. In a conventional building, huge amounts of concrete are used to create a stable foundation for building on. Globally, cement production is responsible for 10% of all carbon emissions.

But at Treetop Co we have been able to eliminate the use of concrete from our builds.

In some cases, our treehouses are fully supported by the tree itself and do not require any ground support. In this case there is no disturbance to the ground whatsoever.

The Orchard Treehouse is fully supported by the trees and does not require any additional ground support

Wherever ground support is required, instead of digging carbon intensive concrete foundations, we use UK manufactured ground screws. Ground screws are galvanised steel units which are installed in soil, creating a stable foundation for building on. While these screws do have their own carbon footprint from their manufacture, in comparison to using concrete foundations they produce 4x less carbon.

What’s more they cause much less disturbance to the soil itself as they take up a much smaller amount of space than traditional foundations. For tree health this is vital. Large concrete foundations can disrupt and destroy a tree’s roots, leaving it at risk of disease and decay. Ground screws on the other hand can be used in a root protection area identified by arboriculturists to ensure the health of the tree.

Not all wood is made equal

At Treetop Co we pride ourselves on using organic materials that blend in with nature as much as possible. Like most treehouse builders, the primary material we build with is wood. But what most people don’t know is that from a sustainability perspective there are some important choices to make about which wood you use.

For the main treehouse structure, we work with local suppliers to source sustainably managed Douglas fir and larch. These timbers are fast growing and quick to lock up carbon. And, most importantly they are naturally pest and rot resistant. In fact, these timbers are so durable that they do not require treatment with any nasty chemicals.

A huge benefit of working with untreated timber is that it is nontoxic to bees, insects, and wildlife. Further, any treehouse timber offcuts can be safely burned in a log burner, or left to degrade on the ground. This is a dramatic contrast to conventional tanalised timber which must be disposed of at a local tip and poses a significant health risk if burned.

For our organic balcony railings and decorative details, we use locally coppiced chestnut and oak stag wood. Coppicing is a fully sustainable woodland management technique where wood is harvested from a living tree which fully regenerates on a given time cycle. ‘Stag’ oak wood is dead branch wood which has fallen naturally from a living oak tree. By utilising these materials for building we effectively lock up carbon and bring an organic feel to our builds. The Nassjo Treehouse is a great example of this.

Finally, for those wanting an organic roof, we build with cedar shingles. Unfortunately, cedar isn’t grown at scale in the UK, so we have to work with imported, sustainably produced cedar from America. Whilst this means the shingles do have a carbon footprint associated with their transportation, they offer a renewable, naturally durable roofing solution which also looks beautiful. Check out the stunning Wildnerness Treehouse for inspiration!

Locally sourced hardy timber, oak stag wood, and sustainably sourced cedar shingles not only look great, but are a good choice for the environment

Keeping warm doesn’t have to cost the earth

Insulation is something worth considering for any UK treehouse. It’ll increase the yearlong usability of the treehouse and likely increase its durability by keeping the interior warm and dry.

Conventional insulation materials are typically inorganic and nonbiodegradable, but for our treehouse builds we recommend sustainable insulation materials. For most of our treehouses we use wood fibre insulation. Made from waste wood material (sawdust, chips), wood fibre insulation is a great way to utilise materials that would otherwise go to landfill.

We also use sheep wool insulation from the UK. Sheep wool is a greatly undervalued resource that typically costs a farmer more to dispose of than it does to harvest. Giving it a new life as a high quality insulation product makes a lot of sense.

Upcycle and reuse where possible

For some treehouse features, for example windows and fittings, a great way to reduce the environmental footprint is to work with reclaimed materials. Check out the gorgeous spiral staircase given a new lease of life on the Ark Treehouse in the Cotswolds.

The Ark’s reclaimed staircase blends in perfectly with its new surroundings

We hope you have found this blog post helpful, and we look forward to hearing about your great ideas to create your dream treehouse!

Are treehouses sustainable?