Which Christmas tree is greener?

Potted Christmas tree wrapped in brown paper and tied with string, placed on a wooden floor against a grey background. As winter arrives and we decorate our homes, many of us wonder: is a real or artificial Christmas tree better for the environment?

While artificial trees can be reused for several years, most are made from oil-based plastics. Their overall environmental impact is often greater than that of a real tree, even with repeated use. The greener choice is a UK-grown real Christmas tree.

For an even more sustainable option, consider buying a potted tree. With proper care, it can be brought indoors for several Christmases and, when it outgrows your home, planted in a garden for outdoor decoration.

Even single-use, UK-grown trees have benefits. They absorb CO₂ as they grow, provide habitats for wildlife, and can be recycled after Christmas – chipped into mulch for parks, converted into biomass fuel, or left in your garden for nature.

Many local charities offer Christmas tree collection services. For example, organisations such as Dorothy House, St Margaret’s Hospice, and Children’s Hospice South West participate in the Just Helping scheme.