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Sustainable Christmas Trees: This is what you should pay attention to

Do you want to celebrate the festival of love and do something good for the environment? Then start with an eco-friendly Christmas tree.

According to the Federal Association of Christmas Tree Manufacturers, up to 29 million Christmas trees are sold in Germany each year. The majority of them come from large monoculture tree plantations. Some of them are also treated with pesticides and other chemicals to prevent pest or fungal attacks on Christmas trees.

This causes two problems for the environment: chemicals and monocultures have a negative impact on the ecosystem – and not only directly on the plantation, but also on the surrounding environment. In addition, it is not good to spray a Christmas tree in a warm room, because chemicals gradually evaporate at room temperature and spread throughout the room.

If you want a real cut Christmas tree, you have to pay attention to its diversity in terms of sustainability. Most spruce, fir or pine trees come from Germany, explains WWF. Nordmann fir is mainly grown in the Caucasus.

Ask the retailer where they get their Christmas trees. The trees should also have the FSC seal, WWF advises.

Christmas trees from regional suppliers that are not sprayed are considered very ecological. This means that no harmful chemicals are released into the environment and there are also no harmful CO2 emissions caused by transportation.

But not only its cultivation, its use after the holidays also has an impact on the ecological balance of a Christmas tree. This means that the Christmas tree is recycled or recycled after the celebration. For example, you can use spruce to protect your beds from frost. You can also use parts of coniferous trees to fight slugs. In addition, there are several zoos that provide pesticide-free Christmas trees to their animals. You can find further possible uses here.

It is also ecological to replant the Christmas tree outside after the celebration. To do this, you need a tree in a pot. But be careful: not all potted Christmas trees are suitable for this. The root ball should be as undamaged as possible and properly cared for after planting. Ideally, you rent a potted Christmas tree from a dealer who will then take it back, plant it, and continue to care for it. He can also provide proper care tips for you while you are at home.

Apart from that, an artificial Christmas tree that is reused every year can also be ecological. However, this depends on what it is made of, where it is produced, and how often it is reused. The more frequent and more regional, the more ecological it is. Artificial Christmas trees made from wood are generally said to be more environmentally friendly than plastic Christmas trees. However, the wood used must also come from sustainable forests, and manufacturers must also adhere to appropriate ecological measures during production.

However, the most sustainable Christmas tree ranks first is one that does not have to be cut down, planted or transported. So if you have a Christmas tree in your garden or front yard, you can simply decorate it for the holiday and enjoy the eco-friendly look – without having to feel guilty. Another plus point: You don’t have to spend money to buy a Christmas tree at your doorstep.