Sustainable Christmas trees to enjoy guilt-free
Whether you’re recycling, carbon-offsetting or foraging for your own driftwood this year, Sarah Rodrigues has the right option for you
Are you the type to put up your Christmas tree the minute the Hallowe’en pumpkin is composted, or do you leave it until weeks into December?
Either way, there’s little doubt that this tradition, often believed to have been introduced to this country by Queen Victoria’s husband Prince Albert in 1840, has a large role to play in making a home feel festive.
Sadly, it also has rather a large role to play in the wastefulness associated with the festive season: it’s estimated that an additional three million tonnes of waste is generated during this period in the UK alone and, according to sustainable plant delivery service Muddy Trowel, the carbon footprint of a traditional Christmas tree is equivalent to that of 500 plastic shopping bags.
For those who would argue that having a reusable plastic tree is the more eco-friendly option, the Carbon Trust estimates that they have a carbon footprint substantially higher than a real tree. That said, not all real trees are created equal, so this season, look for Christmas trees that give back.
CARING CHRISTMAS TREES
Based in Scotland, this arm of Bethany Christian Trust sells Nordmann firs locally farmed in West Lothian and puts all profits towards helping the homeless. Each tree is wrapped in oxo-biodegradable netting for shipping. From £40. caringchristmastrees.com
CHRISTMAS ON THE HILL
This was the year that put rental wedding gowns on the national radar, but why stop there when you can rent Christmas trees, too? This company works with a Gloucestershire farm to produce Norway spruce trees from seedlings, which can be hired and replanted year after year, until they grow too big for domestic use and are planted in the forest. From £60. christmasonthehill.co.uk
GREEN ELF TREES
Locally sourced trees and offset carbon emissions are just the start of it: Green Elf Trees also provides jobs for out-ofwork musicians and entertainers, whose livelihoods have been affected by the pandemic, and donates £3 from the purchase of each tree to the charity of the customer’s choice. The company saves used trees from landfill by offering a responsible removal service, and sells ornaments made from natural materials. From £55. greenelftrees.co.uk
DIY DRIFTWOOD
Fancy a pre-Christmas break and a spot of festive crafting? Holiday rental company Luxury Coastal, based in the South West, has curated a range of workshops in Seaton, Devon. You can make a Christmas tree from driftwood under the guidance of artist Alison Bowskill. Dates are December 2 and 5. £25 per session; selfcatered accommodation from £387 for two nights. luxurycoastal.co.uk
THE STEM
Supplying trees from the same growers who furnish Downing Street with its festive fir, the Stem is a One per cent for the
Planet member, contributing one per cent of all profits to environmental charities and non-profit organisations. The company’s ongoing partnership with Eden Reforestation Projects sees them plant 10 new trees for every Christmas tree they sell – trees that are delivered to customers in 100 per cent electric vans. From £50. thestem.co.uk
RIVINGTON TERRACED GARDENS
Proud Lancastrians should make their way to this 10-acre site, which features no fewer than 11 listed structures. Maintained by volunteers from the local community, the gardens cost more than £100,000 a year to maintain; buying a tree harvested from the site will not only fund the upkeep of its conservation project
but also help to make way for foliage that’s more suited to local wildlife. £40. rivingtonterracedgardens.org.uk
BOMBUS BIRCH TREE
Made from FSC certified birch, this tree comprises two interlocking pieces that form a 4ft tall, freestanding tree. Its clean lines make it the perfect complement to a minimalist, Scandi aesthetic, with an additionally festive touch created by the star-shaped cut-outs, through which lights may be threaded. £750. notonthehighstreet.com/bombus
HABITAT MANGO WOOD TREE
This contemporary Habitat tree is ideal for smaller spaces, thanks to its sleek lines and easy-to-store design. Additionally, it is crafted from mango wood – one of the more sustainable natural options. Standing at a respectable 5ft, it’s also very well priced for a tree with years of use in it. £45. habitat.co.uk
MUDDY TROWEL
“A tree is for life, not just for Christmas” according to this sustainability-driven delivery service – so its range of UKgrown Nordmann firs come potted in Elho eco-pots, which are made from recycled plastic using wind energy. At the end of the season, it can be planted outside until it’s ready to make a reappearance – otherwise, the company will collect it for free and plant it elsewhere. From £67. muddytrowel.com