being carbon zero
E Photo Frames was established in 2006 to combine the design and retail of high quality photo frames with a positive environmental strategy and fair trade ethos.
Buying in cyberspace
One of the first challenges for an e-business is to recognize that people like to touch and feel a product before buying it (especially if it is going to take prominence on a desk or mantlepiece). Technology has not quite advanced that far yet, but our photo frame product pages compensate by providing more information than you would expect in a high street shop, both about the product and the supplier. To avoid confusion we have standardized frame sizes to 6x4” and in some cases 7x5”. Our picture frames come in tasteful packaging, making them ideal gifts.
Most of our photo frames are exclusive to e-photoframes in the UK and in some cases the world (such as our Lanna House range). All our frame designs are hand selected or designed by e-photoframes. Our focus is on the use of natural materials and designs that reflect the beauty of nature.
One Frame One Tree
e-photoframes guarantees to plant a single tree for each frame sold. The tree planting is administered by e-photoframes in conjunction with expert organizations and local people. Care is taken to ensure the trees are appropriately protected and
preserved.
Restoring forests is not a simple case of planting trees and watching them grow. Forest restoration involves planting indigenous trees, maximizing biodiversity and engaging local people to become stakeholders in the ongoing preservation of the forest. Innovative programs exist that maintain these principles and e-photoframes is working to adopt such a program with our partners such as Chiang Mai University’s Forest Restoration Research Unit (FORRU).
e-photoframes is currently sponsoring tree planting in two regions of Thailand: One project on the remote island of Golden Buddha (Koh Phra Thong), another in the north of Thailand. In addition we have formed a partnership with The Plant-A-Tree-Today (PATT) Foundation, an organisation specializing in carbon offsetting and sustainable forest restoration programs.
Project 1: Golden Buddha Island is located on the northern Andaman sea coastline, stretching over 15km long and remaining relatively remote. The inner part of the island is largely bereft of trees as a result of tin mining, leaving savannah-like terrain. The forest belt that existed on the coastline was seriously damaged by the tsunami in 2004. Tragically, the few communities on the island also suffered greatly from the Tsunami.
The project on Golden Buddha is being supported by a conservation group called Naucrates They have immense conservation experience and have worked on the island for a number of years, specialising in the conservation of marine turtles. Tree planting will focus on re-foresting the barren interior and regenerating the Mangrove forests.
Project 2: The north of Thailand has suffered greatly from deforestation in recent times. The destruction of the forest has led to flooding in towns and villages with significant loss of life and property. Trees act as a natural sponge, absorbing water and protecting the ground from erosion and subsequent mudslides.
Voluntourists Without Borders is a project run by the established tourism resources development company Track of the Tiger, which aims to help rural and hill tribe communities establish their own ecotourism network in a sustainable manner. Part of that initiative involves forest augmentation. VWB will be planting trees in three locations, using both local hill tribes an volunteers.
CARBON EMISSIONS
Carbon Zero
e-photoframes has been officially certified as being carbon zero by CO2balance (www.co2balance.com). To achieve this status, e-photoframes produced a detailed report of all operations that were then assessed for carbon emissions over a 12 month period. The carbon footprint was subsequently offset by paying a tariff to C02 balance, who then invest the funds in various projects that reduce carbon emissions.
Reduce your carbon footprint
The purchase of a photo frame from e-photoframes is also a great way to reduce your own carbon footprint. Although our investment in tree planting is not simply intended as a means to reduce of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (e.g. bio diversity is also important), we do understand that customers recognize the value of reducing carbon emissions and are prepared to pay organisations a fee for simply planting a tree (in some cases over £10). Our tree planting cost is passed on to the customer at a wholesale rate and is included in the cost of the frame. Assuming the average consumer is responsible for 10 tons of emissions a year, then one frame will offset between 0.1% and 0.3% of your annual carbon footprint for the duration of the trees life. As few as 300 frames (or 300 trees) could offset your carbon footprint for life!
