The Most Sustainable and Environmentally Friendly Christmas Tree Options

Winter is coming, and along with it, the most festive season of the year. For many of us, the generously decorated Christmas tree is an inseparable part of the Christmas spirit. However, having a lovely huge Christmas tree at home comes at a price to our mother nature.

That’s why we should stop for a second and think of how we can maintain an authentic Christmas atmosphere with an eco-friendly tree option that will be kind to the environment. But don’t worry, we won’t let you guess on your own which is the most sustainable and ethical Christmas tree option. Our guide on how to choose an eco-friendly Christmas tree is here for you.

So, if you:

• Want to learn what type of Christmas tree is more environmentally friendly.
• Can’t decide which is best for you – cut or pot-grown Christmas tree.
• Don’t know whether to opt for a real or fake Christmas tree.

Then, keep reading.

Why avoid artificial Christmas trees?

Unfortunately, a myth spread by the manufacturers of artificial Christmas trees is that if a fake tree is well kept, in the long term, it will end up being less harmful to the environment than a real tree, whose life, if grown in a pot, can be quite short.

That’s not entirely true.

The majority of the artificial trees are made of a non-recycling material which makes them highly unsustainable. The estimated carbon footprint of an average artificial Christmas tree is 40kg of CO2e, which is twice that of a real tree that will end in a landfill, or ten times that of a real tree that will be burnt at the end of its life.

That is why, if you are aiming for a greener Christmas this year, we advise against artificial trees. Having said that, however, if you still want to opt for a fake tree because they are much more affordable, make sure you don’t throw it out after a year or two. An artificial tree that has been in the family for ten years won’t displace the environmental impact it has, but it’s at least a tad bit greener.

Buy a real cut, sustainably grown Christmas tree

An option that is less harmful to the environment is a real cut Christmas tree, though this is not the most sustainable option out there, too. Real cut Christmas trees are grown in specialised plantations and cut at the trunk when the season comes. However, those Christmas tree plantations are not exactly the most eco-friendly. Think of all the water and land used to grow the trees, transportation emissions and the effects on wildlife.

If you choose this option, make sure you purchase a sustainably, British-grown tree to reduce transportation emissions and ensure you get a fresher tree. Watch out for the FSC label. Once the holidays are over, your council may offer to collect and recycle your tree, or you can turn to a charity. Several organisations and companies can do the job for you. Never take your tree to a landfill.

Buy a pot grown and living Christmas tree

The most sustainable option so far is buying a living, pot-grown Christmas tree from a dedicated nursery. This option will allow you to have a fresh-looking tree for the holidays that you can either re-pot when it outgrows its container or plant in your garden for a happy, long-lasting Christmas tree. The benefit of growing in a pot is that you are providing your household with a living Christmas tree for the years to come.

If you like the idea of buying a pot-grown tree, make sure you go for a certified organic. After the end of the Christmas holidays, bring the pot outside or plant the tree in your garden. Christmas trees require light, space, regular watering and good drainage, but still, they are easy to look after and growing a Christmas tree in a pot is worth the work. You won’t have greenhouse gas emissions and wasted water resources that weigh on your conscience.

Contact professionals

If you have decided to go green this year and you want to opt for an eco-friendly Christmas tree brought right to your front door, turn to a specialised company. Fantastic Services offer delivery of both pot-grown Christmas trees and fresh-cut trees, as well as a collection and recycling option for after the holidays. In this way, you won’t have to stress over what to do with your tree once Christmas is over, and how to dispose of it in an environmentally friendly way. We can also install your new Christmas evergreen, should you need help with it. Book a real Christmas tree delivery and collection today and have one thing less on your holiday to-do list.

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We would love to hear what you have to say about sustainable Christmas trees. Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.

Image source: Shutterstock / IgorAleks