A greener tomorrow
WORDS Olivia McRae PHOTOS John-Jo Ritson
Caring for the environment has always been part of Treetech’s legacy. As arborists, part of their job is finding new ways to increase their sustainability and passing on the benefits of a healthy urban canopy to future generations. Their latest sustainable innovation is migrating their fleet to electric and hybrid vehicles.
Treetech’s mission statement is to lead the way in urban forestry; they strive to lead the way in everything they do, such as looking for new technologies and new ways of doing things that are safer, more efficient, and have less environmental impact.
Like all arborists, the team at Treetech really do love trees. Chris Walsh, Managing Director at Treetech, says, “We do whatever we can to increase tree longevity and promote healthy growth. While some trees have to be removed to reduce risk to the community, our ultimate aim is to keep as many trees as possible around for as long as we can.”
Chris is the current president of the International Society of Arboriculture and has been a board member for the past seven years. He explains that “sharing knowledge and expertise with international markets helps to drive Treetech’s sustainable thinking and innovation” while positioning the business at the forefront of emerging trends and technologies.
“Driven by our sustainability mission, our current focus is on switching to sustainably powered equipment,” Chris says.
“We began by replacing petrol-powered equipment with battery-powered chainsaws and hedge trimmers that allow us to maintain our standard of work without the environmental cost, and are now migrating our fleet to electric and hybrid cars and trucks. We measure parts per million on our vehicles and ensure we continuously monitor our vehicles, ensuring the most efficient routes and ideal times. It’s measures like these, big and small, that equal the bigger picture.”
One of their proudest sustainability initiatives is their stormwater management system; this has allowed Treetech to create a flourishing wetland, teeming with animal and bird life, in their yard – while also managing their water.
Treetech has also developed a specialist, sustainably powered garden tools business, GreenGear. The GreenGear range includes electric battery hedge trimmers, leaf blowers, and robotic lawn mowers. Chris is passionate about the benefits of this technology: “The robotic lawnmowers come out and mow at night and charge themselves. They are self-propelled; you don’t have to use your own time to do anything. The mower does it all, so you can go and spend more time with your family, and it’s better for the environment.”
Chris is quick to point out that the benefits of a robotic mower extend beyond your household; there’s also a positive community environmental impact. “There are no clippings to take away, so you’re not loading clippings into a green bin. The clippings go back into the ground, and it’s actually better for the soil. It also keeps the weeds down, so there’s less spraying. Ultimately, your garden and grass look great all year round. GreenGear makes it easy for Kiwis to make a simple, sustainable difference.”
Treetech is passionate about leading the way in sustainable change, and their depth of knowledge means they can provide the right education and advice for any situation.