Eco-Friendly Christmas: Lower-Waste Trees, Wrapping, Decor and Gifts
A plain guide to a lower-waste Christmas: what life-cycle studies say about trees, reusable wrapping, secondhand decorations and gifts that get used.
Tree · 12 guides
Eco-friendly Christmas trees
Cut, artificial, living and alternative trees: what each is made of, how long it lasts and what happens to it after Christmas.
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The tree is the biggest Christmas object most homes bring in, and the lower-waste choice depends on how long you keep it and where it goes afterward. Our guide to real vs artificial Christmas trees sets out what life-cycle studies found and who paid for them: one cut tree has a smaller footprint than one artificial tree, and an artificial tree has to be kept for years to catch up. For a cut tree, Michigan State University’s Bert Cregg recommends chipping or composting, since a tree in a landfill produces methane.
Living Christmas trees in pots skip the one-season cycle if the species suits your climate, or live on as houseplants in the case of Norfolk Island pine and rosemary. Alternative Christmas trees made of wood, felt or driftwood need no water and drop no needles, and an FSC label shows where the wood came from.
Weighing every option at once? Start with the eco-friendly Christmas overview.
Wooden, wall and tabletop trees
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Christmas Tree Recycling: Pickup, Drop-Off and Home Uses
How to recycle a real Christmas tree: curbside pickup and drop-off, what to remove first, and how to reuse it at home for mulch, birds and garden beds.
Artificial Christmas Tree Stand Replacement: Match the Pole Size
How to replace a broken or lost artificial Christmas tree stand: measure the center pole, read the fit range, and pick a folding, rolling or universal stand.
Artificial Christmas Tree Storage: Make a Tree Last Ten Years
How to store an artificial Christmas tree so it lasts ten years or more: bag or box, upright or in sections, where to keep it and what to check each season.
Rotating Christmas Tree Stands: Which Trees They Hold, and Safety
Which trees a rotating Christmas tree stand can turn: pole sizes, height and weight limits, real-tree models, outlets for lights, safety and vintage stands.
Christmas Tree Collar vs Tree Skirt: Wicker, Metal or Wood?
Is a Christmas tree collar a good alternative to a tree skirt? How collars differ, how to size one, wicker, metal and wood compared, and watering a real tree.
Wooden Christmas Trees: Worth It Instead of a Real or Fake Tree?
When a wooden Christmas tree beats a cut or artificial tree, and when it does not: years of use, wood labels, finishes, storage and fire spacing, from sources.
Christmas Tree Stand With Water: How Much a Real Tree Needs
How big a Christmas tree stand reservoir should be for a real tree, how to read maker specs, how grip styles differ, and what to check on a vintage stand.
Real Christmas Tree Care: Keep It Fresh Until New Year
How to keep a real Christmas tree fresh for weeks: recut the trunk, size the stand to the trunk, water daily with plain water and keep it away from heat.
Alternative Christmas Trees: Wooden, Wall, Felt and Driftwood
Wooden, wall, felt and driftwood Christmas trees compared: what each is made of, how to store it, what labels mean, and where the materials end up.
Living Christmas Trees in Pots: Species, Care and Replanting
How long a potted Christmas tree can stay indoors, which species to choose, how to replant it, and when Norfolk Island pine or rosemary is the better route.
Real vs Artificial Christmas Tree: Which Is Better for the Planet?
What life-cycle studies say about real and artificial Christmas trees, who paid for them, PE vs PVC tips, and how to recycle a cut tree after the holidays.
Photo: Richard Rogerson / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0Frequently asked questions
Is a real or an artificial Christmas tree better for the environment?
In the life-cycle studies summarized by Michigan State University and Purdue University, one cut tree has a smaller footprint than one artificial tree. An artificial tree catches up only if it is kept for years: estimates run from 4.7 years in an industry-commissioned study to more than 20 years in an independent one.
What do I do with a cut tree after Christmas?
Use your city or county's collection or drop-off program. Los Angeles County and Recology both ask you to remove ornaments, tinsel, lights and the stand and not to bag the tree. Pickup windows are short, and some programs refuse flocked trees.
How long can a living Christmas tree stay indoors?
About a week at most. Penn State Extension says 4 to 5 days is ideal and no longer than one week; the Chicago Botanic Garden says 7 to 10 days at most. Choose a species that is hardy where you will plant it.
Sources
- Don't stress: reuse artificial trees, compost natural onesMichigan State University
- Which Christmas tree is better for the environment, real or artificial?Purdue University Forestry and Natural Resources Extension
- Christmas Tree Recycling InformationLos Angeles County Public Works
- Holiday tree recyclingRecology
- Caring for a Living Christmas TreePenn State Extension
- Live holiday treesChicago Botanic Garden
- FSC LabelsForest Stewardship Council UK
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