Sustainable Christmas Tree: These 6 options exist
Christmas trees are an environmental issue – and not just since climate change has entered public awareness. It's not primarily about the climate, but about resource waste, soil-damaging monoculture plantations, and the use of environmentally harmful herbicides.
Fortunately, Christmas tree buyers today have a choice between various sustainable Christmas tree options; the offerings range from trees with eco-labels to Christmas trees with roots in pots and even rental Christmas trees. We give you an overview of the existing possibilities.
Symbolic image: The Keinachtsbaum without branches (left) and with branches (right)
Christmas tree cultivation and environmental protection – yes, that works together!
Can there even be a sustainable Christmas tree? Or, to put it another way: Isn't a Christmas tree – meaning a fir tree that you only buy to put in your living room over Christmas – generally harmful to the environment? Just because Christmas trees are grown on plantations that take up space from wildlife and where spray poisons are used? No. While of the approximately 29 million Christmas trees sold annually in Germany, indeed about 90 percent come from
However: Due to the long production period (9 to 10 years per parcel), the plantations provide a habitat for many animals – and also plants – for a long time. And according to the Federal Association of Christmas Tree Growers (BVWE), weed control today primarily relies on mechanical cleaning systems or sheep instead of chemicals. Nevertheless, not every Christmas tree is a sustainable Christmas tree.
How to ensure your Christmas tree is sustainable: These are the options:
1. Opt for German production
Many Christmas trees sold in Germany do not actually come from here – they come from abroad, e.g., from Denmark. In 2020, for example, about 2.14 million Christmas trees were imported into Germany. Those who value a sustainable Christmas tree should avoid imported Christmas trees (which always carry a CO2 "transport backpack").
2. Pay attention to ecological forestry
If a Christmas tree bears an eco-label, such as the FSC quality mark, the Biokreis label, the Bioland label, the Demeter label, or the Naturland label, then the tree has at least been grown according to the rules of organic farming or ecologically oriented forestry. However, the PEFC forest label developed by the forestry industry, for example, is NOT an eco-label – it allows the use of pesticides and fertilizers (see Robin Wood: ecologically certified Christmas trees).
Is a certified Christmas tree always a sustainable Christmas tree?
No. The mere fact that a tree has a seal does not necessarily mean that it is sustainable or has been produced sustainably. Many manufacturer-specific seals are simply eyewash. Good sustainability seals, as already mentioned in the text, are Bioland, Naturland, Demeter, and the FSC certificate. While the Fairtree seal stands for fair wage policies and thus has a certain sustainability claim, it does not, for example, make an environmental protection promise.
3. Buy a tree with roots
When it comes to sustainability, the question of the tree's survival after Christmas naturally arises: Isn't it more sustainable to buy a Christmas tree with roots instead of a felled tree? Yes, of course. However, a tree with roots also requires more effort, as it needs to be well cared for and watered, and also, one must actually replant it later. Since trees with roots are usually sold in pots, they are also not exactly huge.
Can a Christmas tree with roots always be easily "re-wilded" after Christmas?
Unfortunately not. When a tree is dug up from the plantation, its roots are always damaged, that's just the nature of it. Sometimes it's not possible to replant the tree outdoors. Even with trees grown in pots, re-wilding is more or less a matter of luck.
4. Rent a tree
Yes, you can rent Christmas trees. Rental trees are provided in pots and delivered to your doorstep by the provider (and later picked up again). The use of a rental Christmas tree is therefore very convenient, and it also creates a good environmental conscience. However, it is not cheaper than buying. In fact, renting a Christmas tree usually even costs more than buying, because delivery, collection, and year-round care cost money.
What does it cost to rent a Christmas tree?
The rental price for a Christmas tree depends less on the size of the tree and more on the distance to the provider (and thus on the delivery route). Prices start at 70 EUR and can exceed 100 EUR for cross-state delivery routes.
5. Opt for a model tree made of wood
If you value reusability and have no problem with an artificial tree, but don't want a plastic tree for environmental reasons, you can opt for a model tree made of wood. Wooden trees come in a variety of designs, representing a sustainable and stylish alternative to the traditional real Christmas tree. They are usually made from unpainted and untreated FSC-certified wood and have a lifespan of decades. The only drawback is the lack of fir greenery: the predominant color of a wooden model tree (subject to decorations) is naturally light brown.
What does a wooden Christmas tree model cost?
The price for a wooden tree model is determined by various factors, including the model size, wood type, and design. However, a wooden tree model is rarely available for less than 120 EUR; large or very uniquely styled models cost around 300 EUR.
6. Buy a Keinachtsbaum®
And of course, there's the Keinachtsbaum® we offer: It's sustainable (because it's reusable), made from FSC-certified wood, and has real branches from trees that are allowed to continue growing. Unlike a tree with roots, you don't have to painstakingly "re-wild" it in nature after Christmas. It thus represents the perfect combination of sustainability, naturalness, and practicality.