In the run-up to Christmas, many of us decide between a real fir tree and an artificial Christmas tree. Both trees have both advantages and disadvantages and have been criticized for their ecological balance. Let’s leave our personal preferences aside: Is a real or artificial Christmas tree better for the environment?
Christmas without a Christmas tree? Hard to imagine for many. The choice usually falls on either a real fir tree or an artificial tree made of plastic. While the latter is an investment for many years and only needs to be dusted once before setting up, a real tree is more authentic and does not take up space in the closet or basement after the party. In order to weigh up the decision, it is also worth taking a look at the sustainability of the two variants. The environmental impact of both real and artificial Christmas trees is not exactly good for several reasons.
The classic: The real tree
According to a survey, around half of households in Germany put up a real plant as a Christmas tree. A quarter rely on the artificial fir or don’t put up a tree at all. Those who buy a real tree buy a Nordmann fir in almost 80 percent of cases, followed by the blue spruce. Neither tree species originally comes from Germany: the Nordmann fir is actually native to the Caucasus, a high mountain range between the Black and Caspian Seas, and the blue spruce is native to the Rocky Mountains in the western United States.
However, only around ten percent of all Christmas trees sold in Germany are imported, often from Denmark. The majority, however, grows in the Sauerland: around a third of the firs and spruces that are decorated at Christmas in this country grow on around 12,500 hectares. However, the large-scale cultivation of trees comes at a price for the environment. Many plantations consist of pure monocultures – i.e. areas where only a single tree species grows over the years. This results in more fertilizer being needed to compensate for depleted soils. In addition, such one-sided crops are significantly more susceptible to pests, which is why plant protection products have to be used more often.
These products leave their mark: In a 2020 study by the German Federal Environment Agency and Nature Conservation Association (BUND), 14 of 23 analyzed Christmas trees from various federal states had pesticide residues. “The high level of multiple exposure is particularly critical; many Christmas trees are exposed to a real cocktail of pesticides,” explains Corinna Hölzel from BUND. “The interaction of the individual substances on human health is almost unknown.” On two occasions, the BUND even found pesticides that were not approved in Germany or for Christmas tree cultivation.
The practical one: the artificial tree
Real Christmas trees are criticized, but plastic trees also have their pitfalls. A study by the Canadian Ellipsos Institute estimated in 2009 that an artificial tree would have to be used for around 20 years in order to perform better ecologically than a real one. This is mainly due to the energy-intensive production: on average, a plastic tree produces around 40 kilograms of CO2. Since many models are imported from China, the long transport route further increases emissions.
A natural Christmas tree, on the other hand, only produces around three kilograms of CO2 – even if it is burned after the holidays. It also binds carbon dioxide during growth. Additional emissions only arise during transport to the sales stand or home. If you want to buy the tree in the most climate-friendly way possible, you should go to a supplier in your area. But: “Regardless of the tree species chosen, the impact on the environment is negligible compared to other activities, such as car use,” writes the Ellipsos Institute.
What is better?
A more sustainable alternative can be renting a Christmas tree. The fir trees remain in the pot and are returned to the provider after the holidays. There they will either be rented out again next year or later planted outdoors. However, critics fear that the rented trees will then end up in a monoculture again. If you want to choose your own tree as environmentally friendly as possible, you can look for certifications such as FSC, Demeter, Bioland or the general organic seal. They guarantee that the fir comes from organic forestry – i.e. grew without pesticides and without forest areas being cleared.
It is therefore best to buy an ecologically certified real Christmas tree from the region. If you use your plastic tree long enough, you can celebrate Christmas with it with a clear conscience.