Nature, plastic, organic, regional: Which Christmas tree is the most sustainable?

Created: 07/12/2022 15:31

By: Momir Takac

The ecological balance of natural Christmas trees is significantly better than that of plastic Christmas trees.

© IMAGO / picture 13

Christmas trees come in many varieties.

But which one is best for the environment?

A comparison between nature, plastic and organic.

Munich – In times of energy transition and the climate crisis, environmental protection and sustainability are now very important to many people.

This probably influences many when choosing a Christmas tree.

There are many variants: the plastic Christmas tree, the real fir, the organic fir or the version with roots and pot.

The plastic tree may seem to some to be the better option from an environmental point of view, because it can be used several times.

But for the ecological balance to correspond to that of a natural tree, the plastic variant would have to be used for at least 16 to 17 years, calculated the Ellipsos Institute in Montreal, Canada.

Basically, the plastic tree contains PVC or polyethylene that does not biodegrade.

According to the Canadian scientists, the average plastic tree comes from Asia and causes around 48 kilograms of carbon dioxide (CO₂) during production, transport and disposal.

This is offset by 3.1 kilograms of CO₂ for natural trees.

The British company Carbon Trust comes to a similar conclusion.

Good plastic Christmas trees are quite expensive

Vendors often advertise that their artificial fir trees can be set up for an average of eight to ten years - too little to beat the natural tree.

A tree that is not immediately obvious that it is made of plastic is also expensive.

According to Rudolf Fenner from the environmental organization Robin Wood, you have to factor in at least 200 euros.

Real fir is more sustainable.

More than 80 percent of the Christmas trees bought in Germany are Nordmann firs.

"The real Christmas tree beats its artificial competitors by a long way," says Denny Ohnesorge, Managing Director of the Main Association of the German Wood Industry (HDH).

According to the Association of Natural Christmas Trees, the naturally grown trees are usually climate-neutral.

Local Christmas trees are particularly sustainable when grown under high-voltage power lines

“During growth, they process climate-damaging CO₂ from the atmosphere.

When the tree is later used, however, less CO₂ is released than was previously stored,” is the reasoning.

After the festival, the trees would usually be composted or used to generate energy.

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Only the Christmas tree that comes from the region and whose wood or wood chips are used for furniture or building materials after the festival is really climate-friendly.

The German Nature Conservation Union (NABU) also recommends buying spruce, pine and silver fir from thinning measures or from special forest locations such as under high-voltage roads.

Because these usually untreated trees would have to be felled anyway.

A special experience for the whole family is cutting down the Christmas tree yourself.

Natural Christmas tree from the region with an organic seal is the best choice

The environmental organization Robin Wood points out that most of the Christmas trees sold in Germany come from plantations that are fertilized and sprayed with pesticides - with a corresponding burden on soil, water and animals.

According to a study, however, there should be no immediate danger for the user from vapors in the apartment.

If you not only choose a natural product from the region, but also choose a fir tree with an organic seal, you are doing everything right.

There are still not that many suppliers of fir trees with an eco-label in Germany, says Fenner.

However, the price is not higher than that of conventional trees.

By the way, anyone who simply cuts down a Christmas tree in the nearest forest risks a hefty fine.

Christmas tree with roots usually does not experience a second Christmas

The Christmas tree variant with roots would be an even more environmentally friendly choice.

But for that he would have to survive Christmas.

But that is rare in reality.

Trees that are only pulled out of the ground with their roots shortly before Christmas and pressed into a pot would survive the upcoming festival, "but not a second one," warns Fenner.

According to him, the situation is different with Christmas trees, which have been grown in a pot from the start and have been repotted into larger containers several times over the years.

But these trees also suffer, according to Fenner, because they are naturally dormant in December.

"And when they get into the warm house, they wake up from hibernation and lose their antifreeze," Fenner warns.

Later, the trees "could freeze to death very easily after two weeks in the warm living room outside".

One exception: the tree and its roots are rented from a regional tree nursery, garden center or forester's center and brought back there.

A 1.75 meter high Nordmann fir then costs around 80 to 100 euros to rent.

Whether plastic or natural: It shouldn't be the way it was for an Aldi customer in Great Britain.

Her Christmas tree fell apart right after unpacking.