Christmas is, by all standards, a not very sustainable holiday. People shop, travel and eat much more than they should, and their carbon footprint goes through their snow-covered roofs. Of course there are ways of mitigating the Christmas carbon extravaganza by traveling using the least dirty means of transport (rail, if possible), sharing eco presents and making a meal with organic, local produce that excludes meat.
But there’s that elephant in the room called ‘the Christmas tree’. It’s big and it invites the question: how green is it? For a while some people tried to plug it to the world that plastic Christmas trees were greener because they could be re-used. However, a thorough comparison between the two options illustrates that real trees are more sustainable for several reasons including the fact that in most cases the plastic ones are only used a couple of times. Besides, who wants to increase demand for yet more toxic plastic in the world?
So, yes, getting a real Christmas tree is more sustainable than getting a fake one. But even better than that is renting a Christmas tree, an idea that has taken root in England where it was championed during the famous Ideal Home Show At Christmas that took place mid-November.
When people rent a Christmas tree they get a pruned and potted plant for the season celebration. Then it is collected in the new year and replanted to be rented out the following Christmas. Of course the tree will keep growing and once it is too big for a home they will be planted out in schools, nursing homes etc., and absorb quite a bit of carbon, according to the Little Tree Company, which supports the Christmas tree rental scheme.
If such a scheme is not available in your neck of the wood, there are a few details to look out for when it comes to choosing a sustainable Christmas tree. First, the hard facts: they do not come from fairytale crops where every tree is harvested by a rosy-cheeked Norwegian. They come from monocrops that are often sprayed with fertilizers and herbicides.
So, when sourcing a real Christmas tree, look out for providers of organic Christmas trees (Greenpromise has a list). Another tip: try to find a tree that has been grown as close to home as possible. If you get a felled tree instead of a potted tree, inquire from your local authority whether it offers a collection service. This kind of planning is essential if you don’t want to end up with a massive tree in the house and not knowing what to do with it.
Finally, you can stay away completely from the fake versus real and go for the arty approach to sustainable Christmas trees. This reusable eco Christmas tree looks nothing short of fabulous and would add an imaginative touch to the decor (besides busting the kitschy potential of a traditional Christmas tree!). Or you can turn popcorn into a Christmas tree, which should be fun a lot of fun to make.
Courtesy: (written by Antonia Pasolini)
O M G!!! This is absolute new finding. Never gave a taught about it. However, is the good source of Information on CSR and Sustainability.
Posted by Cheyenne Jones | December 25, 2011, 3:27 pmI planted one of these trees in front of my house and decorated it for years. But it’s gotten too tall and I don’t have room to plant another.
But the rampant consumerism of Christmas, Chanukah and other solstice celebrations is even more distressing. According to Annie Leonard’s research (Story of Stuff) there is 70 pounds of industrial waste for every pound of consumer goods produced, and after one year only one percent of those goods is still in use. WhoaH!
Posted by Larry Menkes | December 26, 2011, 8:53 amI’m going to be the devil’s advocate here!! It kind of takes all the fun out of going shopping for a real Christmas tree.
Then hauling it out after 2 weeks and throwing it away!! But heck, are Holidays supposed to be sustainable?
What happened to “eat, drink and be merry”? I think both of them go hand in hand..
Posted by Amod | December 26, 2011, 1:07 pmThe point of Christmas is to have a great family time with as much excess as you desire, great big Christmas trees and loads of good stuff going on for children, you can either love it or hate, loath or accept it, me I love it… bring on big Christmas trees… responsibility is not all about Christmas trees big or small, not about carbon footprints and such matters, responsibility is about having the freedom to exercise a choice about what you do in your life caring for everything and everybody that is around us, I for one do that everyday if I am able, so no humbugs here just Christmas crackers and excess including my Turkey lunch and of course our beloved Christmas tree… the big plastic one we had from 1975 of course.
Posted by Graham | December 26, 2011, 5:22 pmFirst, and most important, the author makes grand assumptions as to what is of value in the eyes of the customer and why – what is the motivation for their buying patterns and decision-making process. This and this alone will dictate what type of tree is purchased.
Posted by Joseph | December 27, 2011, 7:32 amA good observation! When I bought trees for two friends who couldn’t afford them this year the extent of my eco-consciousness was this- which supplier was closest to my house, were the employees/owners local people, and could I choose locally grown trees. I got a yes for all and bought from the closest supplier, who was two blocks from my house.
Dealing with the grander assumptions I’d only say that the tree is NOT the elephant in the room; it’s merely one of the deadly small critters crawling around in the shadows. The elephant that I can see is the one that asks, “Can I get my carbon footprint to a point where I’m no longer a part of the problem, or are my comfort and convenience requirements more important than stealing from my children’s future?”
If we all begin to ask for potted rental trees we might be able to influence the market, and our footprint. The next question it might lead to is, “what larger changes do I need to make in my lifestyle that will help more, that will help enough?.”
Posted by Larry Menkes | December 28, 2011, 1:45 amI agree, and there has been a discussion in the Green group titled “Is a natural Christmas tree or an artificial Christmas tree more eco-friendly?”. For several years I have realized Christmas is so commercialized, and the carbon footprint of it is nuts, and so unsustainable… and I commented in the other discussion, how about a third option, of not having a tree… One comment after mine mnetioned the origins of the Christmas tree being an old pagan tradition, which I had always been curious about, which got me even more curious about the origins of Christmas and its traditions, so I googled it. Wow…. I would think if everybody knew the origins, they might rethink their perception of Christmas.
Posted by Linda | December 27, 2011, 7:33 amThanks for sharing this article!!!
Posted by Kulveer | December 27, 2011, 6:53 pmJust bookmarked you under Digg under “Sustainability And Christmas Trees: Let’s Get Real Corporate Social Responsibility”. So hopefully our friends can give you a visit. Keep up the good stuff.
Posted by Refugio Radiology | January 23, 2012, 1:24 pm