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christmas trees
November 2009 
Christmas Trees for the Environment
Posted on Nov 28th, 2007
by 
Jessica
Jessica
So, Christmas is coming up. I love the holidays. I love Christmas lights and trees. And, I've been reading a lot about the eco-impact of getting a live tree. I think it's important because thousands of families will be getting trees this year and it's hard to know which decision is best. It turns out a real tree is actually much much better for the environment than getting a fake tree made of PVC chemicals that isn't recyclable.
Here's a quick summary before I get into the quotes:
1) Real trees are more sustainable and eco-friendly than fake
2) Buy a locally grown tree and check how many pesticides the farmer uses
3) Recycle your tree if possible
4) A live tree can be good, but only if you have enough space and the right soil for planting
5) Cutting your own tree from a "Cut your own" tree place can be a good option
6) No tree is still the most sustainable option, although if you get a pesticide-free tree that inspires replanting, that's not bad
Sustainability
I read a great article in the current issue of VegNews called To Tree or Not to Tree (cute huh?) and it says:
According to theNational Christmas Tree Association, of which Gernon (an interviewee) is a member and former treasurer, between one and three trees are planted to replace every one cut. It takes an average of seven years for trees to mature, and while growing, they take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen, just like every other plant. An acre planted with Christmas trees will produce enough oxygen for the needs of 18 people everyday.
Wow. That's cool.
Pesticides/ Toxicity
Many articles suggest you call your local Christmas tree place and find out how organic they are and how many pesticides, etc. they use. Grist says:
If you must have a tree, the good old-fashioned wooden kind is the right option. That does not necessarily make them a great option, though, and you should do your tree-selecting with care. Christmas trees are an agricultural product and carry the attendant issues of all mass agriculture. There are trees grown with pesticides and herbicides vs. organic specimens, there are family operations vs. large-scale producers, etc. The bottom line: Go for the actual tree and try to support a small-scale sustainable grower if you can.
Recycle
You can also recycle your Christmas trees. Yahoo Green says:
Farmed Christmas trees are ultimately a renewable resource. Growing trees absorb carbon dioxide, and after the holidays, the trees can be recycled into mulch. Check Earth 911 to see where to take your dead tree after the 25th.
TreeHugger says:
Go chop down a tree. Really, we mean it. An artificial Christmas tree might seem like the greener option, since no real tree is being destroyed and it can be reused year after year. But they’re usually made of PVC, and our local recycling center certainly doesn’t have a bin for old PVC trees (Grist has more on the dangers of artificial trees). Christmas tree farms, on the other hand, have sustainability built into the business: when you cart your tree off for trimming, they’ll plant another one to sell a few years down the line. In the meantime it’ll be turning carbon dioxide into oxygen and providing habitats for animals. At least, that’s the simple version of things. In actual fact...
Here are some of the post-holiday uses that we’ve seen for your tree:
- Recycle it into compost. Some cities will collect your tree and compost it, or you can do it yourself. A tree can be turned into mulch, too, so it pays to think about what your landscaping needs are going to be when the snow melts.
- Sink it in a pond. A tree can offer refuge to fish if you live on a private lake or have a pond. We’d only recommend this if you’re sure the tree hasn’t been treated with chemicals that could harm the aquatic ecosystem.
- Plant it in the backyard. If you’ve got the space for it, getting a tree with roots and replanting it is obviously the most eco-friendly solution. But make sure you buy a species that will work with the soil type and climate at your house. Get advice on how to care for the plant while its indoors and how to plant it after—if the tree farmer can’t help you, try a greenhouse or nursery. The tree should only be indoors for a week, so don’t plan on the up-at-Thanksgiving, down-at-Valentine’s-Day route.
So, good luck with your trees folks! I hope this helped.
Happy Holidays!!!
Access: Public
Great post Jessica! Thank you!
When I was growing up, we would dig up a tree and replant it along the driveway when the Holidays were over. It's kind of fun to drive under a tree that used to be 4 feet tall with presents under it.
Happy Holidays!
This reminds me of a link I've been sending out to everyone i know especially teachers and younger relatives:
http://www.storyofstuff.com/
Okay, I posted my proof that I recycled my tree! Your above post tipped the scales for me and I chose the real tree, as I do every year, and I recycle them every year, too. I was happy to keep the tradition.
http://thepixellator.gaia.com/blog/2008/1/recycling_christmas_trees
Neat!
I live in Hawai'i and almost all our trees are shipped over from the mainland in matson containers and sold at Wal-Mart. It SUCKS!
So hippie me and my parents went out into the back yard and cut down a myra faia tree for christmas. Faia trees are really bad for the enviornment here and choak out the native forests so we thought we'd be doing everybody a favor.
Good tradition? We hope so, it was an interesting looking tree anyway. Good for next year.
We use our old trees for firewood usually, it gets cold up here believe it or not!
Thanks for the post Jessica :)
PLUR!
Christ mas trees seem to seperate a large part of the population that has nothing to do with Christmas. We don't need a religious reason to plant a tree, or to be with nature. We are are all one and we are all nature.
Thanks for the comment Rose! I hear you. But, I must confess, I'm not Christian. I just like the trees and sparkly lights and since a lot of people have them, I thought the info would be helpful. We never need a reason to celebrate or plant, but I don't mind if there is one. I just like celebrating. :)