Ethical And Sustainable – It’s In Our DNA
Our Origins
Our journey began in 2011 while on holiday in Córdoba, Spain, where we came across a large stockpile of waste wood from the pruning and replanting of local olive farms. Although some of the wood was used by local communities for cooking, heating, and woodturning, the majority was left to decompose unused.
We realised that this waste wood—already destined to break down and release carbon—could instead serve as a sustainable fuel source, replacing fossil fuels and providing a carbon-neutral alternative. From this idea, The Green Olive Firewood Company was born, and we began importing waste olive wood to the UK for firewood.
Over time, our values have grown into a broader commitment: to use natural, ethical, and sustainable materials while actively reducing emissions, supporting regeneration, and contributing to a healthier planet.
Wood Sustainability
Our operations are based in and around the UK, where we process British logs from responsibly managed woodlands and estates that follow clear replanting and felling programmes. Most of our kiln drying is powered by solar energy, supporting our mission to operate as a fully sustainable and ethical business.
All imported woods—such as olive wood—are sourced from authorised, responsibly managed farms or woodlands. We carry out thorough due diligence to ensure every piece of wood we use comes from sustainable and traceable sources.
Ready to Burn
Our firewood logs are certified under the Ready to Burn scheme administered by Woodsure. The kilns used for drying this wood are powered off-grid using a combination of wind and solar energy.
Packaging
How and what we pack our goods is crucial for our future. In 2013 we sold our firewood in wood crates we made that could be burned as firewood also. Unfortunately, the extra cost incurred meant we couldn’t be competitive, meaning sales were not as we had previously hoped. Since then, we have made sure any net bags we use are fully recyclable and made with a percentage of recycled material. We mainly use paper or cardboard for our charcoal and firelighter products.
Our bags can all be sent back to us for recycling. Alternatively, you can bring our bags to your local recycling centre to be recycled.
Firestarter’s and Firelighters
Every product we make is designed with environmental responsibility in mind. Our firelighters are free from chemical additives and made only with vegetable oil or wax combined with wood biomass.
Charcoal
Our barbecue charcoal is produced from sustainably sourced wood, processed in low emission retorts. We work exclusively with suppliers that comply with international timber legality standards and, wherever possible, hold FSC or PEFC certification. Our robust procurement and due-diligence process ensures strong traceability and responsible sourcing.
Composts
Biochar, Carbon Gro, and Recycled Coffee Grounds
Our sustainability initiatives continue with our commitment to circular-economy practices. Every year in the UK, more than 500,000 tonnes of spent coffee grounds are discarded—much of it ending up in landfill, where it produces methane, a greenhouse gas far more harmful than CO₂.
By repurposing these used coffee grounds into our Coffee Compost Soil Improver and Coffee Pellets, we help reduce this emissions impact and transform a common waste product into something beneficial for gardens and the environment. This nutrient-rich compost improves soil biology, boosts plant health, and supports long-term environmental sustainability.
We also produce Carbon Gro biochar, created through pyrolysis—heating organic waste wood in the absence of oxygen. This process locks carbon into a stable form that enriches soil for centuries and acts as a carbon-negative product. Each 5-litre pack of Carbon Gro biochar can sequester around 6 kg of CO₂ when incorporated into soil.
Together, our biochar and recycled-coffee initiatives showcase our commitment to innovative, regenerative, and sustainable practices—helping gardeners support healthy soil while contributing to climate action.
Our Commitment
We remain dedicated to ethical, sustainable, and environmentally responsible operations. We are stewards of a single, irreplaceable planet, and we are committed to doing our part to protect it—for today, and for generations to come.