Are Real Christmas Trees Better for the Environment?

While the ‘official’ correct date to put up your Christmas decorations is widely debated, tradition indicates that your tree should be put up at the beginning of Advent - or the fourth Sunday before Christmas. This year, that date is Sunday 1st December.

 

As we build up to the big day, the team here at Euroflorist can reveal that searches for fake Christmas tree (average search volume - 6,600) are 816% higher thanreal Christmas tree (average search volume - 720) - showing that Nederlanders are searching for artificial alternatives the most.


But the great Christmas tree sustainability debate still remains: Are real or fake Christmas trees better for the environment?

Christmas time is always a high-volume shopping time, with gifts, food, and decor being purchased months prior to the big day. However, on a global scale, the market for Christmas decorations, including lights, trees, and other items, was estimated to be worth over seven billion U.S. dollars in 2023 alone.

When looking at environmentally friendly factors, real Christmas trees have an average carbon footprint of 3.5 kilograms of carbon dioxide (CO2) if they are disposed of via a wood chipper or bonfire. However, if they end up in landfills, the carbon footprint increases four-fold, which is equivalent to 16 kg of carbon dioxide (from Earth.org).

Besides this, a fake Christmas tree must be used for at least 12 years for it to be as environmentally friendly as buying a real one each year.

Christmas Tree Disposal Guide

Taking down the tree is something we all hate to do, but once the magic of Christmas is over, it's time to look ahead to the new year, and wait another 365 days for festive fun.

As such, the team at Euroflorist have listed a few different ways you can dispose of your real Christmas tree properly:

 

Recycle the tree

If you’re wondering where to throw away Christmas trees, some Christmas tree retailers, such as Kertsbomen Amsterdam, may offer recycling services, allowing you to return the tree to them after the festive period. Check with your local retailer or tree farm for more information.

Some councils also offer recycling services, so head to your local council’s website or contact them directly for further information on whether this is something they’ll offer this year. 

 

Shred the tree

Shredding Christmas trees greatly speeds up their decomposition, and the tree shreddings makes good mulch for shrubs and paths.

A chainsaw is recommended for this too if you choose to do this yourself, however, many councils and some tree retailers will offer a shredding service - with the trees being composted in a green waste site and the resulting compost used to enrich farmland - although each station may have different uses for the tree.

 

Replant it in your garden

Replanting the tree in your garden is another great method of disposal, as this way, you can give the tree a new life outdoors. However, this must be done as soon as possible after Christmas, ideally before the New Year, or just after.

It’s recommended to select a spot away from any buildings or other trees, and to dig a deep hole which is at least a foot deep and a few feet wide - although this depends on the size of the root ball, so dig the hole as big as you need it.

You can also purchase real Christmas trees already in a pot, which makes it easy for transportation outdoors, and gives it a solid and secure base for any weather conditions.

 

Allow it to rot

Strangely enough, it can be a good choice to let your real Christmas tree naturally rot as they are biodegradable, and unlike many other types of timber, free from wood preservatives. The soft wood from the tree will rot away, and disappear into the soil within a year or two.

The rotting tree fragments will also support many insects and other wildlife, as well as improving the soil and feeding nearby plants, giving them some well-required nutrients for growth.

To do this, simply cut up the tree into sticks and stack neatly in a shady out-of-the-way part of the garden. A cordless chainsaw or an axe is recommended for this.