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If you celebrate Christmas (or any winter holiday that includes trimming a tree, or you just enjoy having a fir tree in your home) and care about the environment, odds are high that you’ve battled with a holiday query as old as, well, plastics: what sort of Christmas tree is the most eco-friendly? When given the option between cutting down a tree, trying to keep a potted one alive, or getting a falsie, many green folks are stumped–and may be surprised to find out that the most conscientious option might be the most counter-intuitive.
Artificial trees, which have gained popularity for their lifelike appearance, no-hassle purchasing, and ability to be used year after year, seem like the more tree-friendly option, if only because they don’t require the actual death of a tree. But artificial trees don’t grow on trees, so to speak, and as a result, can actually be way worse for the environment than a potted tree, or even a freshly-cut one.
Unlike other cash crops, which give little back to the environment and crowd out forests, Christmas tree farms take up relatively little greenspace, and create complex root systems that are good for soil. Christmas trees aren’t uprooted or overturned each year–they’re just re-planted, which means they don’t cause erosion, and, like all trees, they remove carbon from the atmosphere. Live Christmas trees are also 100% biodegradable (because they’re, you know, trees) so once you’re finished using them, they can be turned into mulch or compost. And because they’re such an easy crop, many farmers need few pesticides or fertilizers to get them to grow. Thus, they are nearly carbon neutral–assuming the farm is employing responsible growing practices, which many do–but being a smart consumer might mean asking about whether or not that’s the case.
By comparison, artificial trees, which are made in factories where land has ostensbily been clear-cut and trees have actively been removed, are made of plastics. The manufacturing of Christmas trees alone emits toxins into the air and the water supply. Additionally, because most artificial trees are made in China, they’re shipped overseas, which increases their carbon footprint. Christmas tree farms bought locally cost only as much carbon as it take to drive to get one.
There’s also a third option: the potted, live tree. These are often smaller (and don’t fill your home with the wondrous aroma of a tree that’s slowly dying), and can be planted when they’re finished, making them the most sustainable option. However, this is assuming you can actually keep one alive–a feat I’ve never actually be able to manage. If you can’t, you may as well be cutting down a tree..and then some. Potted trees actually do require the tree to be uprooted, which can lead to soil erosion. However, most farms re-plant, which can keep the soil intact.
Driving out to the country, though festive, may also not be an option for you. But plucking a tree from a grocery store parking lot that’s been driven in from out of state isn’t exactly the most eco-friendly option. Do a little research and find farmers near you who may be selling at more convenient spots, and don’t be afraid to call or email about what their growing practices are like.
If you can’t imagine a holiday without a tree, consider all the options. The tree-in-a-box from Target may be the easiest and least tree-kill-y, but that doesn’t mean it’s the best for the planet.
Image: Linn Currie / Shutterstock
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