How is bark mulch sourced sustainably

Bark mulch that carries a sustainable tag begins its journey in well-managed forests, where harvesting plans mirror natural regeneration cycles rather than strip the canopy bare. Logs arrive at sawmills for timber; bark peeled away is a secondary output, not a motivator for felling. Certification schemes such as FSC or PEFC audit every stage, confirming that each consignment springs from legal, responsibly managed woodland. By diverting this woody skin into horticulture, mills avoid burning it for low-grade heat, locking carbon in soil instead of releasing smoke.

Once stripped, the bark rides conveyor belts powered by biomass boilers fuelled with other processing offcuts. It is sorted, screened for metal fragments and oversized lumps, then allowed to mellow outdoors so tannins leach harmlessly before the mulch reaches gardens. Short haulage distances matter: sourcing within two hundred miles keeps diesel use modest and supports local foresters who replant promptly with mixed native species to bolster biodiversity.

AHS LTD works under a chain-of-custody system that traces every cubic metre back to its stump. Periodic soil and water tests around supply sites ensure no hidden contamination, while production waste—dust and shavings—is cycled back into the boiler loop. Sustainability, in this, is verification plus continual improvement.