{"id":9385,"date":"2010-11-17T12:43:52","date_gmt":"2010-11-17T18:43:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.sustainablog.org\/?p=9385"},"modified":"2010-11-17T12:43:52","modified_gmt":"2010-11-17T18:43:52","slug":"real-christmas-trees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sustainablog.org\/articles\/real-christmas-trees\/","title":{"rendered":"Real Christmas Trees: the Green Choice?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"real<\/p>\n

Editor’s note: Jessica Hodkinson takes a British angle on an issue for anyone celebrating Christmas… real vs. artificial trees.<\/em><\/p>\n

It\u2019s nearly that the time of year where we decorate the house with tinsel and wrap treasured gifts for our loved ones. But do we think about being environmentally friendly when choosing a Christmas tree?<\/p>\n

Over six million trees are purchased every Christmas and our decisions can play a vital part in sustaining the environment\u2019s condition.<\/p>\n

With a large majority of the population leading a hectic lifestyle, the build up to Christmas is always a busy time and people often opt for an easy option by taking a tree that simply looks good. There has been a rise in the popularity of artificial trees, as they are fashionably decorative and last for years. The unwanted dropping of pine needles also saves on cleaning procedures.<\/p>\n

However, artificial trees are produced using fossil fuels and end up in landfill, adding to the off set of carbon emissions and the overall pollution of the environment. Most of the plastic trees are manufactured in China which also involves high transport emissions during importation. Surely we don\u2019t want to add to this?
\n<\/p>\n

The Benefits of a Real Christmas Tree<\/h2>\n

Real trees absorb CO2 while growing (six tonnes per hectare), and release oxygen into the atmosphere… with each acre of trees producing enough oxygen for the daily needs of 18 people. Natural trees are renewable where as artificial trees contain non-biodegradable plastics and possible metal toxins such as lead.<\/p>\n

Growers who belong to the British Christmas Tree Growers Association<\/a> (BCTGA) sign up to an environmental code of practice which ensures that they use seeds from sustainable sources, plant on land that has been ecologically and archaeologically surveyed and use the minimum amount of chemicals needed to deal with pests and diseases. If you buy a Christmas tree that has a British flag printed on the side of its trunk, you can be sure it has been grown by the (BCTGA)<\/p>\n

There is also something a little more special about the aroma of pine needles and the presence of a just-felled, real tree in your front room. Setting the scene traditionally is a big part of the Christmas spirit.<\/p>\n

The most common Christmas Tree types are the balsam fir, Douglas fir, Fraser fir, noble fir, Scotch pine, Virginia pine and white pine. If you choose a cut tree, do not purchase earlier than 1st December as it will last over a longer period of time. Trees that have been recently cut down\u00a0in the UK will hold their needles better than imported varieties cut down weeks before.<\/p>\n

Greener Choices for Christmas Tree Disposal<\/h2>\n

Most trees are left in a laneway, shoved in a rubbish bin or dumped in the nearest tip after the festive season. Stay eco friendly by recycling the tree after use as they can be taken to landfills where they are ground into mulch for future use. Contact your local council or return it to the farm where you bought it from.<\/p>\n

\"christmasChristmas trees are recycled can turned into mulch used for<\/p>\n