How Trees Can Help Us Breathe

Trees are more than just a habitat for birds or a lovely thing to look at. They help us breathe, clean the air and support life in ways that are easy to take for granted.

A tree can provide one of life's essentials: oxygen. It can also help remove gases such as carbon dioxide from the air, supporting a healthier environment for people, wildlife and the wider planet.

How trees help us breathe

As humans, we breathe in air that contains oxygen. Oxygen is essential for us, and for other animals, to survive. Once we breathe it in, our bodies use it to produce energy. This process is known as respiration, and BBC Bitesize explains respiration in a simple, helpful way.

During respiration, energy and carbon dioxide are produced. When we breathe out, that carbon dioxide is released into the air. Plants, including trees, can then take in carbon dioxide and use it to help make their own food.

Photosynthesis and clean air

Trees do this through a process known as photosynthesis. In photosynthesis, plants take in light from the sun and use that sunlight, along with carbon dioxide from the air and water from their roots, to produce sugars they can use. Oxygen is released back into the air as part of this process.

Photosynthesis and respiration are two essential processes that help sustain life on Earth. Trees also store carbon in their fibres, helping to clean the air and reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The Arbor Day Foundation shares more about the value of trees, including the way mature trees absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen.

So next time you take a deep breath of fresh air, give a little credit to a tree, or perhaps even hug one in thanks for what it gives us: the very air we breathe.

Why trees matter to Whistlefish

At Whistlefish, we recognise that paper is the main resource we use in our business. Without it, we would not be able to bring our vision, artwork and cards to life for you to see and share.

That is why we decided to take action to support tree planting and help balance the environmental cost of using this wonderful natural resource. We set out to plant more than enough trees to cover our paper use, with a focus on planting in Cornish soil.

We teamed up with the wonderful team at Plant 1 Cornwall, with a target to plant more than 1,000 trees in Cornwall. You can read more about our Plant 1 Cornwall pledge on the Whistlefish blog.

Our woodland contribution

Our original Plant A Tree Pledge has since grown into a wider commitment to woodland creation and restoration. You can learn more about this work on our Restoring The Celtic Rainforest page.

If you would like to get involved, you can add a woodland creation contribution to your order and help support tree planting that will stand for years to come.

You can also explore our wider environmental commitments on the Whistlefish Green Matters page.