Since the early 19th century UK households have continued the tradition of putting up a tree.
Prince Albert introduced this practice in the royal household and it has become a staple since then. There are no religious connotations to having a Christmas tree but in pagan years they symbolised life and fertility.
In recent years in the UK, real Christmas tree sales have been declining due to the popularity of artificial trees. Artificial trees are made using Polyethylene Terephthalate or PET, many from recycled plastic bottles.
Real trees do not produce the emissions that faux tree production creates
Kirsty Hammond Publisher of Specifier Review
It’s a jolly holiday with Merry
However, it’s not all Jolly Holidays in the world of Christmas! The production of faux plastic trees not only produces huge amounts of carbon dioxide but also utilises toxic chemicals that are harmful to us and our environment.
Microplastics as we know, once disposed of degrade and break down over a long period of time, causing a wealth of problems.
Currently there are around 6 to 8 million trees grown in the UK each year for the Christmas period, 1500 Christmas tree farms with the average growing 5000 trees each, the average spend on a tree is £50.00. The most popular types are Nordmann Fir, Norway Spruce, Scots Pine and Lodgepole Pine.
2023 figures show that 62% of UK households who put up a tree at Christmas are planning to buy an artificial one. Nearly 90% of these will be shipped and made in China, carbon emissions and transport environmental costs have to be considered. Due to the materials used most are not recyclable and will end their life in landfill.
Green trees really are green
Real trees protect our climate, support our forest and our local growers. Real trees do not produce the emissions that faux tree production creates.
Buying real supports our forests. For each tree felled, there remains 10 standing. Buying a real tree supports the tree farming industry but also protects healthy forest habitats for wildlife. Well managed forests play a huge role in the climate solution.
Interestingly Christmas trees are not included in the EU pledge to plant 3 billion additional trees by 2030. However these plantations can boost biodiversity and contribute to carbon capture.
At the end of Christmas we all feel wasteful dragging the tree out of the house, however these trees can be recycled and given a second use.
A local tree for local people
According to the Carbon Trust, a 2 metre artificial tree has a carbon footprint of 40kg, a real tree, ten times less. It could be argued that if you were to use the tree ten times it would negate the carbon footprint? Sadly on average we only use them for four years before chucking them in landfill alongside all our Christmas rubbish.
A locally sourced tree is by far the cleaner choice. Christmas trees take around a decade to grow to 6 feet, during these years they provide stability for wildlife but most importantly for us, carbon capture for this entire time. Dumping a real tree does have connotations for decomposition and methane release but if the wood is chipped or burnt the results are different.
Many local charities offer this service in exchange for a donation, the chips produced can be used for mulching and as soil improvers. Burning your tree is surprisingly an effective disposal method. A whopping 80% reduction in emissions if you choose this option over dumping!
So while data shows that online searches for real Christmas trees, pretty much equals those of artificial, it does appear that the convenience of an artificial boxed tree may be waning.
This year ‘Christmas tree farms’ ranked as the top consumer search. Many families enjoy the tradition of picking their own tree, getting into the Christmas spirit and struggling to get it home on top of the car!
Would Christmas even be Christmas without the need for a bungee strap?
Kirsty Hammond is Publisher of Specifier Review
