Real vs. Plastic Christmas Trees: Which Is the “Greener” option?

Real Christmas trees, typically evergreen conifers like fir, spruce, or pine, are a sustainable crop, grown in a harvest cycle of around nine years. For every tree cut for Christmas, one or more are planted in its place, ensuring a steady renewal of the resource. While some view cutting a tree for decoration as deforestation, real trees are a renewable and natural option when responsibly grown and disposed of.

On the other hand, plastic Christmas trees have gained popularity for their reusability and low maintenance. However, their production involves significant emissions, and they are non-biodegradable, raising questions about their long-term environmental footprint.

While both options have their charm, the environmental impact of your choice might surprise you. The answer lies in understanding the lifecycle of each option and how you choose to use and dispose of it. Let’s break it down with a detailed comparison, weighing the pros and cons of each and determining which is the more sustainable option for you.

Real Christmas Trees

Real Christmas trees are a tradition for many, with their fresh pine scent and natural aesthetic. However, their impact on the environment depends on how they are grown, harvested, and – most importantly – disposed of. 

There are three main forms of natural Christmas trees:
1. Cut trees without roots are single-use and often recycled into fertilizer.
2. Root-ball trees may survive if replanted with care.
3. Potted trees have the highest chance of survival and can be replanted, but high temperatures indoors can harm them.

Pros:

• Biodegradable: They naturally decompose without leaving long-term waste.
• Renewable Resource: Tree farms plant new trees for each one harvested.
• Carbon Absorption: While growing, they act as carbon sinks, absorbing CO₂ from the atmosphere and storing it in their trunks, branches, and roots. Even after harvest, they retain this stored carbon, and if kept potted, they can continue absorbing CO₂ in your home.
• Supports Local Farmers: Purchasing a real tree often supports local agriculture and economy.

Cons:

• Short lifespan, typically one season.
• Transporting them adds to their carbon footprint, especially if not sourced locally.
• Some tree farms use chemicals that can harm the environment.
• Improper disposal can contribute to methane emissions.

Plastic Christmas Trees

Plastic trees have gained popularity for their convenience and durability. While they are reusable, their long-term impact on the environment raises concerns.

How did artificial Christmas trees come to be?

The history of artificial Christmas trees dates back to the 19th century in Germany, though earlier prototypes existed. The first artificial trees were crafted using goose feathers dyed green, designed to mimic the look of evergreen branches. These “feather trees” were developed as a response to the growing issue of deforestation in Germany, where the demand for real trees during the holidays was impacting forests.

By the 1880s, feather trees became increasingly popular and spread internationally. They eventually made their way to the United States, where they gained popularity in the early 20th century. Interestingly, the tradition of using natural Christmas trees in the U.S. was predated by a different type of artificial tree: wooden, tree-shaped pyramids lit with candles, developed in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, by the German Moravian Church in 1747.

The transition to modern artificial trees began in the 1930s, when manufacturers started creating trees from brush bristles, similar to those used in toilet brushes. By the 1950s and 1960s, aluminum trees became a futuristic holiday trend, reflecting the era’s fascination with modernity.

Finally, the plastic Christmas trees we know today began gaining traction in the late 20th century, using materials like PVC (polyvinyl chloride) to create reusable, low-maintenance options. These trees became popular for their convenience, although their environmental impact has raised significant concerns in recent years.

From feather-dyed branches to aluminum and PVC, artificial trees have evolved significantly, shaped by cultural trends and practical needs, offering an alternative to real trees while sparking ongoing debates about sustainability.

Goose feather Christmas tree

Pros:

• Reusable for many years, reducing the need for repeated purchases.
• Cost-effective over time.
• Low maintenance with no need for watering or cleaning up fallen needles.
• Allergy-friendly for those sensitive to pine or other natural elements.

Cons:

• Non-biodegradable, leading to long-term pollution.
• High carbon footprint from production and transport.
• Made from toxic materials like PVC, which release harmful chemicals during manufacturing and disposal.
• Even if used for years, they will eventually end up in a landfill.

Sustainability Tips for Plastic Trees:

• Invest in a high-quality tree designed to last at least 10 years.
• Donate or repurpose your tree when it’s no longer needed.
• Choose trees made from safer plastics like polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP) over PVC.

Understanding the Carbon Footprint of Christmas Trees

The carbon footprint is the amount of emissions and greenhouse gases produced by human activities, whether it’s manufacturing a product or performing daily tasks. 

According to the British Carbon Trust, a natural tree that is responsibly disposed of—such as being chipped for mulch or compost —has a relatively low carbon footprint of 3.5 kg of CO₂. However, if the same tree is left to decompose in a landfill, its footprint jumps to 16 kg CO₂, as it releases methane, a greenhouse gas 30 times more potent than CO₂, during decomposition.

Artificial trees, on the other hand, have a significantly higher initial carbon footprint, averaging 40 kg of CO₂ per tree due to manufacturing and transportation. However, their long-term impact can be mitigated. If reused for 10–12 years, an artificial tree’s annual carbon footprint drops to around 3–4 kg CO₂ per year, similar to a responsibly disposed real tree.

While real trees might seem like the greener option due to their natural carbon absorption during growth—most 6-7ft trees are around 10 years old and contribute to oxygen production during that time—there’s a catch. How you dispose of a real tree is more important than where it came from or how it was transported. 

How to properly dispose of the real Christmas tree

Burning the tree: When you burn a fir tree, all the CO2 captured during its growth is released back into the atmosphere, potentially contributing to global warming. While this process is considered part of the biomass cycle—where new trees capture the released CO2, making it roughly “carbon neutral”—it’s not the most ecological option.

Burning your tree at home in a wood-heating system, like a fireplace or stove, is possible, but fir wood is not an efficient fuel source. Instead of releasing the tree’s stored carbon back into the atmosphere, it’s better to explore alternatives that minimize environmental impact and keep the carbon locked away.

Throwing the tree away: Waste is a uniquely human concept—nature doesn’t create waste, as the “leftovers” from one process become resources for another. Disposing of your Christmas tree at a garbage dump may seem like an easy solution, but it’s far from ecological.

When fir trees end up in landfills without proper composting, they decompose under anaerobic conditions, leading to fermentation. This process releases methane (CH4), a greenhouse gas with approximately 80 times the warming potential of carbon dioxide during its first 20 years in the atmosphere. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, methane is responsible for roughly one-third of the climate crisis, making its reduction a critical environmental priority.

Throwing your tree away isn’t just harmful to the environment—it’s also a waste of valuable organic material that could be repurposed for better use. So, what’s the alternative? 

Mulch It: To prevent the CO2 captured by your Christmas tree from being released back into the atmosphere, transform it into mulch. Mulching involves shredding plant material and spreading it over soil to protect it, enrich its nutrients, and regulate temperature. This eco-friendly method allows carbon to decompose slowly, keeping it stored in the soil rather than releasing it into the air.

To create mulch, shred your tree into pieces about 30–70 mm and mix in green materials like herbs or foliage for balance. Spread the mulch around hedges, gardens, or flower beds to improve soil quality. Contrary to popular belief, fir or pine mulch does not acidify the soil. If you don’t own a grinder, many rental services offer machines for this purpose. Mulching your tree is a simple, sustainable way to repurpose it and benefit the environment.

Compost it: Another excellent option for disposing of your tree is composting. Composting has gotten a bad rep for smelling, but it shouldn’t stink if done correctly. This must be done by turning the compost regularly to ensure it receives enough oxygen. When managed properly, composting is also a highly sustainable way to dispose of your Christmas tree. 

The Verdict

For the most sustainable option, potted trees are the clear winner. Unlike cut trees, they can be replanted after the holidays and reused year after year. While only a small percentage survive replanting, those that do continue to grow, absorb CO₂, and release oxygen. With proper care, you can increase their survival chances, making them a fantastic choice for eco-conscious holiday celebrations.

If you already own an artificial tree, the most sustainable choice is to keep using it for as many years as possible. When it’s time to replace it, consider donating it before disposing of it to extend its life cycle.

The most sustainable Christmas tree is one that’s chosen and used thoughtfully. Whether you prefer a real tree or an artificial one, you can balance tradition with sustainability by making informed decisions.

Remember, your Christmas tree is just one part of the holiday season. Other activities, like air travel, shopping, and food consumption, have a far greater environmental impact. So, whatever type of tree you select, keep the bigger picture in mind. Choose a tree that fits your lifestyle, honors your family traditions, and, most importantly, brings joy to your holiday celebrations.

Christmas tree for our ZEO home

After careful consideration of all the facts, we’ve decided to opt for a real potted tree for our ZEO home. To make it even more meaningful, we chose to support the local project Vánoční Jedlička s Budoucností (A Christmas Tree with a Future).

This project is perfect for those who want to approach the holidays differently—prioritizing sustainability over perfection. By choosing a tree that can survive beyond Christmas, participants help preserve Prague’s forests for future generations. Since 2017, the project has offered an eco-friendly alternative to disposable Christmas trees with their potted Christmas firs.

These three-year-old saplings of silver fir, a species native to Czech forests, are grown specifically for replanting. While they may not meet the traditional standards of a “perfect” Christmas tree—often described as having a “punk” look—they come with a huge advantage: after the holidays, they can be replanted in your garden or in a forest during the spring replanting event.

Learn more about the project here: https://lhmp.cz/mestske-lesy/vanocni-jedlicka-s-budoucnosti/

The tree comes with detailed care instructions to ensure it survives the winter and thrives in its new home when replanted. We hope you’ll join us during the replanting event in spring!

Here is our ZEO tree in all her glory—what do you think?

Happy decorating, and may your holidays be both merry and green! 🎄