December 18, 2023, 12:27 pm | Read time: 7 minutes
What kind of Christmas tree should it be this year? A real fir, plastic, organic, or with roots in a pot? Which option is the most sustainable? The selection is vast when it comes to finding the right tree for the holiday season. The appearance is always a matter of taste. However, which of the trees is the most environmentally friendly is not. That’s why myHOMEBOOK clarifies this in the following article.
For many, Christmas without a tree is unimaginable. According to a representative survey by myHOMEBOOK from 2021, the real Christmas tree remains the most popular. It smells wonderful and looks great. However, a real tree must be disposed of at the end of the holiday season. That’s not exactly sustainable. It’s different with artificial Christmas trees. These can be used again next year. But how sustainable is a plastic artificial Christmas tree really?
Overview
Many Christmas Trees Are Contaminated with Insecticides
Most Christmas trees sold here come from German monocultures. These cultivation areas are anything but natural—plants from monocultures are more susceptible to pests. Therefore, many insecticides and pesticides are sprayed over a long period. A fir tree is typically cut down only after seven years. This protects them from many pests and allows the trees to grow evenly. At the same time, the use of these chemicals also kills beneficial insects and harms the soil. Additionally, there’s a risk of bringing residue of these chemicals into your home.
Related: What to Consider When Buying a Christmas Tree
Pros and Cons of an Artificial Christmas Tree
An artificial fir tree usually only needs to be purchased once and lasts for several years. This means lower costs and less effort, not least because such a tree doesn’t shed needles. Additionally, allergy sufferers and those with insect phobias handle an artificial fir better. The tree requires little maintenance and doesn’t need watering. TÜV-certified artificial firs are also flame-retardant.
But how environmentally friendly is a plastic tree? In general, plastic is bad for nature. The PVC or polyethylene in artificial Christmas trees is not biodegradable. However, an artificial tree can be worthwhile if used for a long time. According to calculations by the Ellipsos Institute in Montreal, Canada, it would need to be used for at least 16 to 17 years to match the environmental impact of a natural tree.
The average plastic tree comes from Asia and, according to Canadian scientists, produces about 48 kilograms of carbon dioxide (CO₂) during production, transport, and disposal. In contrast, a natural tree produces 3.1 kilograms of CO₂. The British company Carbon Trust reached a similar conclusion.
Providers often advertise that their artificial fir trees can be set up for an average of eight to ten years. The plastic version regularly ends up in the trash before its CO₂ footprint is balanced with that of a natural tree. Additionally, if you don’t want it to be obvious that the tree is made of plastic, you’ll have to spend a lot. Costs: 200 euros and up, according to Rudolf Fenner from the environmental organization Robin Wood.
Environmental Impact of the Real Fir
The Classic
The Nordmann fir remains the most popular Christmas tree in Germany, with over 80 percent market share. Forest expert Fenner knows its advantages: “Because it’s so beautifully green and soft and doesn’t shed needles.” Behind it are blue spruce, red spruce, and other species. “The real Christmas tree outshines its artificial competitors by far,” says Denny Ohnesorge, managing director of the German Wood Industry Association (HDH). According to the Natural Christmas Tree Association, naturally grown trees are generally climate-neutral. “During growth, they process climate-damaging CO₂ from the atmosphere. When the tree is later utilized, less CO₂ is released than was previously stored,” they argue. After the holiday, the trees are mostly composted or used for energy production.
However, only a Christmas tree from the region, whose wood or wood chips are used for furniture or building materials after the holiday, is truly climate-friendly. The German Nature Conservation Association (Nabu) also advises buying spruces, pines, and silver firs from thinning operations or from special forestry sites like under high-voltage lines. These usually untreated trees would have to be felled anyway.
The environmental organization Robin Wood points out that most Christmas trees sold in Germany come from plantations that are fertilized and sprayed with pesticides, with corresponding impacts on soil, water, and animals. However, a study suggests there is no immediate danger to users from emissions in the home.
The Organic Fir
If you don’t plan to use your artificial Christmas tree forever, you should opt for a natural product from the region. Even better is one with an organic label. What has caught on more quickly with food takes longer with Christmas trees, says Fenner. About 0.7 percent of trees sold in Germany carry an organic or eco-label, according to the Robin Wood expert. “You still have to search for providers.”
Those who find a seller with organic trees will be pleased to know: They are not more expensive than conventional trees. The Natural Christmas Tree Association expects a price of about 20 to 27 euros per meter for Nordmann firs. Fenner gives a price of 20 to 26 euros for the same tree in the organic variant. “Organic trees should actually be more expensive,” he says. Although the extra effort would justify it, no provider dares to charge more than for a conventional tree. The Federal Environment Agency recommends the following labels as trustworthy: Bio, Bioland, Naturland, Demeter, or FSC. The key is that no chemicals may be used—neither in fertilization nor in pest control, explains Fenner.
The Tree with Roots
Could it be even more environmentally friendly? Yes, if the tree would survive the Christmas season. The idea of buying a tree with roots instead of a cut Christmas tree sounds theoretically sustainable and good. The problem: In practice, many trees don’t survive a second holiday. Trees that are dug up with their roots shortly before Christmas and squeezed into a pot might survive the upcoming holiday, “but not a second one,” warns Fenner. It’s different, he says, with Christmas trees that have been grown in a pot from the start and have been repotted into larger containers over the years.
But even these trees suffer, according to Fenner, because they are naturally in hibernation in December. “And when they come into the warm house, they are awakened from hibernation and lose their frost protection,” warns the expert. Later, after two weeks in a warm living room, the trees could easily freeze outside. An exception: The tree with roots is rented from a local nursery, garden center, or forestry and returned there. A 1.75-meter-high Nordmann fir then costs about 80 to 100 euros in rental fees.
Interested parties should also note that large trees with large roots often need to be watered frequently to prevent drying damage. Additionally, a 1.5-meter-high Christmas tree requires a pot with about 50 kilograms of soil.
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Where to Put the Fir After Christmas?
A pesticide-free organic fir tree can be easily disposed of on the compost after the holiday. Before doing so, the tree should be stripped of Christmas decorations and tinsel. It’s also best to avoid lacquer and glitter sprays, as toxins don’t belong in the compost heap. Otherwise, most municipalities offer a collection service. For this, the undecorated fir tree should be placed outside the door on the designated day.
How About a DIY Christmas Tree?
Those who build their own Christmas tree don’t have to worry about disposal or potential pesticide contamination. The possibilities are almost limitless. Whether a freestanding tree or a one-dimensional one on the wall, anything is possible. The good thing is, you can redesign or expand it every year.