What’s The Best Choice When Looking To Buy A Sustainable Christmas Tree?
This argument has been raging for years. In this article, I hope to put the argument straight and offer some other sustainable solutions.
There are an estimated seven million Christmas trees bought each year in the UK according to the British Christmas Tree Growers Association (BCTGA).
Soil Association
But, recent statistics suggest that almost half of all these trees sold are fake.
So is it best to fake it or go real?
Read on to find out:
- The difference between real and fake trees
- A real Christmas tree is the best way to go
- Other tree options
- What to do with a real tree after Christmas?
What Are The Differences Between Real And Fake Christmas Trees?
According to the Carbon Trust, a two-metre artificial tree has a carbon footprint of around 40kg CO2e, whereas a similar sized real tree chopped down creates about 3.5kg. That equates to over eleven times fewer emissions.
In other words, you’d need to reuse an artificial tree 12 times to negate its carbon footprint. It’s estimated that fake trees are used on average only four times regardless of improving quality.
Compare this with a real, locally sourced tree and the difference is stark. Most trees sold in this county are UK-grown.
Christmas trees take around 10-12 years to grow to the most popular size of 6 feet. During this period, they provide a habitat for wildlife and capture carbon from the atmosphere.
A Real Christmas Tree Is The Best Way To Go
Personally, I would always go for a natural tree as it looks…well, natural! It smells nice too. Fake trees are often imported from countries such as China. , I would prefer to support our own growers. Yes, there are downsides. The needles drop and get everywhere. They are heavy and cumbersome to erect, but I love the yearly ritual of buying and erecting a real tree. Particularly when my kids were young.
Other Tree Options
There are several other options. If you are feeling especially creative then why not make a recycled wood tree. A quick search on Pinterest shows some amazingly inventive and stunning options that people have created from old pallets and recycled or foraged wood.
Another option could be to rent a real Christmas tree. There are some great companies such as loveachristmastree.co.uk who will rent you a potted tree and take it back to look after it ready for next year! How amazing is that.
What To Do With A Real Cut Tree After Christmas
Please don’t chuck your Christmas tree in the rubbish bin as it will release methane in a landfill site. Instead, local authorities often offer a collection service where it goes with other green waste to make compost. Better still, our local charity Dorothy House Hospice care will collect your tree for you. Loads of volunteers (of which I am one) collect your tree for you and it gets shredded and recycled and put to good use.
Alternatively, burning is a particularly effective way to dispose of a used Christmas tree. This reduces potential emissions by 80% over those that are thrown out. I shred the foliage of my tree and compost it. The trunk gets cut up and seasoned for a year before going on my log burner.
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