To buy a fake tree or a real tree, that is the question (at this time of year!)
For those that are making a conscious effort to be more enviromentally friendly, many are opting to purchase artificial trees in a bid to save a tree ‘from the axe ‘.
However, according to an online Guardian article, environmentalists and energy analysts would disagree that the surge in sales of artificial trees is not environmentally friendly!
“It is the manufacture of the plastic tree, from oil, which creates most of its carbon footprint; around two thirds, according to Dr John Kazer of the Carbon Trust. Another quarter is created by the industrial emissions produced when the tree is made. They are also often shipped long distances before arriving in the shop and then your home.
A 6.5ft artificial tree has a carbon footprint equivalent to about 40kg of greenhouse gas emissions – which is more than twice that of a real tree that ends its life in a landfill and more than 10 times that of a real tree which is burnt.”
Our Top Tips for purchasing a real tree this year are:
Buy Local and from Independent businesses
Friends of the Earth advise to look for one that is locally produced, or at least grown in the UK with an FSC certification to avoid emissions from transporting and importing. Growing them in the UK reduces the carbon footprint of importation and you also get a fresher tree because it can be cut three weeks later.
Furthermore, research shows that £10 spent with a local independent shop means up to an additional £50 goes back into the local economy.
Don’t lose your needles (or marbles!)
When trying to avoid masses of needle drop, it’s best to consider the type of Christmas tree you’re bringing into your home! To prevent a laying a new carpet of green needles, look to varieties like the Abies nordmanniana (Nordmann fir) which is known for its needle retention. Another variety that retains its needles is the Picea abies (Norway spruce) - both sold at Cobbs farm Shop.
Looking after your new Household plant
Expose the wood pores by sawing a couple of centimetres off the end of the stump. You can also score the bark at the base of the tree. But don’t remove any bark completely. Water is the key to keeping the needles on your Christmas tree. Freshly cut trees will take in lots of water in the first week – as much as two pints a day! Keep a reservoir of water in the tree container and check daily to keep it topped up.
You can also boost your tree by stirring a couple of spoonfuls of sugar into the water before you give it to the tree Alternatively, feed the tree with some full-sugar lemonade mixed into water.
Disposing of your tree after Christmas
Check your local authority offers a collection service for real trees. According to Kazer, a real tree that is recycled – by chipping – or is kept growing in a pot or the garden, can have negligible or even negative emissions. However, a 6.5ft tall real tree could result in a carbon footprint of 16kg CO2 if it ends up in landfill because the tree decomposes and produces methane gas – which is 25 times more potent as a greenhouse gas than CO2. Chipping or repotting your tree is key!