Sunlight filtering through a golden kelp forest canopy in British Columbia, representing That Green Store's ocean restoration project

The Blue Forest: From the Land of Lakes to the Pacific 🌊

In Finland, we live by the water. Whether it is the quiet expanse of the land of a thousand lakes or the rugged coastline of the Baltic, we understand that water is our greatest life-support system. It is where we find our silence and our strength.

This Earth Day, That Green Store is looking from our home waters to a forest few ever get to see: the towering underwater canopies of British Columbia, Canada.

The Science: Why the "Blue Forest" Matters

We often look to the land for climate solutions, but the ocean's "Blue Forests" are some of the planet's most efficient carbon sinks. Kelp forests are underwater powerhouses that do more than just breathe for the Earth:

  • Biodiversity Hubs: They provide essential shelter and food for thousands of marine species—from Pacific salmon and herring to the endangered northern abalone.
  • Climate Resilience: These vast underwater canopies help protect our coastlines and absorb carbon at an incredible rate.
  • The Crisis: Over the last fifty years, we have lost more than 40% of global kelp forests due to rising temperatures, overexploitation, and pollution.

Why It Matters to Us

At That Green Store, sustainability is about more than just numbers; it is about the communities that guard our natural world.

What drew us to this specific restoration project in Hotham Sound and Powell River is the deep human connection. Through our partnership with veritree, we are supporting restoration work that happens in close collaboration with the shíshálh (Sechelt) Nation.

This is a journey of restoration that honors the traditions and the well-being of the Indigenous coastal communities who have been the stewards of these waters for millennia. We believe that true environmental work must also be an act of cultural respect.

Our Shared Impact

We believe that every choice we make—from the materials in our Ethical Edit to the way we ship across Europe—should contribute to a restorative future.

When you choose a piece from our collection, you are directly supporting the planting of new kelp seedlings in the Pacific. You are helping to regrow an underwater sanctuary that breathes for all of us.

This Earth Day, thank you for looking beneath the surface with me. From the lakes of Finland to the Pacific coast, let's grow a future that lasts.

With gratitude,

The Team at That Green Store

Shop the Collection that Plants the Future

Back to journal