Christmas Trees & Sustainability: Real, Fake, or Neither?

 When you think Christmas tree- what comes to mind? A real tree, the scent clinging to the air? Or an artificial one that can look picture-perfect, each branch carefully placed?

For me, it's always been real. We would buy one each year, and although at some point (in my late teens to early twenties maybe) I realised that I'm allergic (nothing a good anti-histamine can't fix... sort of), it was still our go-to. The nicer artificial trees were too expensive, and the cheaper options were just not very pretty. Plus, nothing beats the smell of a real tree every time you walk into the room.

But in my quest to become more eco-friendly, came the question- is chopping down all these trees sustainable? Though getting an artificial one was not a good option either. They are made of materials, plastic essentially, that will take far too long to break down. I do own a small fake tree, one that does not look realistic, which I bought in 2015. I have to learn to forgive myself for buying something I would now never dream of getting, as I didn't know what I do now. I even purchased a fake wreath in 2019, my first festive season in London. At least I bought them with the intention of reusing, however even though they are reusable, they are not eco-friendly.

If you own any artificial trees, or anything fake or made of plastic, please don't throw them out just because I say they're bad. It's of course more sustainable to keep using them for as long as you possibly can. The damage is done, we already have them. And then, when the time comes, try to find a way to recycle or repurpose them (I'm hoping some company will be around to do this someday... please). They currently cannot be recycled, so if you no longer want yours, give it to a charity shop, or some other place in need of donated decorations.

To answer the question I posed earlier- what about the chopping of real trees? Well, it is still better to get a real, chopped tree than to buy a new artificial one. Especially when you're supporting local tree farmers. But, with everything in the eco world, there are things to look out for. First, like I said, make sure they are locally-grown trees. Imported trees will raise the carbon footprint, which according to

Carbon Trust, is less than an artificial tree. A 2 metre fake tree has a footprint of about 40kg CO2e, while a real one of the same height is about 3.5kg if it is burned, replanted, or chipped for garden use, or 16kg if it ends up in landfill. So you can see that getting a real tree is already better than a fake one when you're taking the carbon footprint into account. Another thing to check is that the trees are also FSC approved.

You can also now rent a tree. Yes, I said rent one. They come in a pot, and as long as you take care of them, they go back to keep growing until the next year, when you can rent one again. And then, when they've reached a certain height, they get permanently planted. I, for one, think this is a brilliant scheme. Much better than purchasing a potted tree- it's hard to take care of them all year long (I failed once Christmas was over in 2019...), and at least they go back to people who know how to care for them long-term.

If you are getting a chopped tree, and you want it to last, the best thing is to use a special dish that is either part of the stand or attaches to it. Also, chopping the end of the trunk to get rid of the sap seal that formed after t was chopped down. Adding a few holes will also help it absorb water. Then it's just about making sure it gets enough water, and you can also add 7Up to it, apparently that helps!

So, that is my take on the real VS fake debate, which probably has gone on since artificial trees were a thing, but is now more important than ever. The answer to the title of this post is that real is the best option. Whether you get a potted, chopped, or rented one, it's the most sustainable option. As long as you remember to check where it's from, and if it is FSC certified. Well, I know what type of tree we're getting this year, do you?

-Sustainable Sarah