Five Tips for a Sustainable Christmas Tree
Overall, well over 2 million Christmas trees are sold each year. "Over 90 percent of the Christmas trees sold in Austria come from domestic production - this saves long transport routes and thus CO2 emissions," explains Karin Enzenhofer, forest expert at WWF Austria.
The WWF provides five specific tips on how to get the most environmentally friendly Christmas tree possible.
Tip 1: Prefer Organic
"Those who want an environmentally friendly Christmas tree should buy from here,” advises Karin Enzenhofer from WWF. "This guarantees, among other things, that no chemical-synthetic plant protection products or artificial fertilizers were used in cultivation. In addition, the soil is less burdened." The grass around the trees is mowed in an environmentally friendly manner or grazed by sheep. From a health perspective, organic Christmas trees are also more sensible, as conventional trees can release pesticides and similar substances in a heated living room.
Tip 2: Pay Attention to the Treetop
Organic trees currently only cover about 1 to 2 percent of the demand. If no organic Christmas tree is available, one should choose a Christmas tree from the region to keep the transport routes and thus the CO2 emissions as small as possible. The origin of a tree can be recognized by the paper loop at the treetop, which represents the colors of the respective federal state. One should refrain from an unmarked Christmas tree from the hardware store. Often these trees are imported from Northern and Eastern Europe and felled early. The necessary cooling until sale and the long transport routes mean a high energy expenditure.
Tip 3: Avoid Exotic Tree Species
About 85 percent of Christmas trees in Austria are firs, 14 percent are spruces. Nordmann firs and blue spruces are particularly popular. Both species are not native to this country and are therefore not adapted to the local flora and fauna. Therefore, larger amounts of pesticides have to be used for their cultivation. The native Austrian spruce is a better choice.
Tip 4: Properly Dispose of Your Christmas Tree
A Christmas tree should only be disposed of properly, that is without tinsel and other decorations. On your own compost heap, the (organic) Christmas tree can make a valuable contribution to humus build-up. From the specially set up collection points, the trees go to biomass power plants where they are burned for energy production.
Tip 5: Be Careful with "Tree in a Pot"
The most sustainable trees are those that can continue to live after the holidays. In recent years, there has been a trend towards the "tree in a pot”. However, there are several things to consider: "Many potted firs come from conventional holdings, others are not viable after planting because their roots are stunted or have been severely cut back - or because the large temperature differences between heated living room and outdoor temperature are too much for them,” warns Karin Enzenhofer from WWF. Therefore, the "tree in a pot" should also be a native, organically grown tree in Austria, which feels comfortable in the garden after the holidays. The same applies to the DIY Christmas tree made of branches and twigs: organic, regional and native.
WWF: The Perfect Christmas Tree is Organic
When it comes to the Christmas tree, the same criteria apply to sustainability as to food - regional organic products are the best. However, anyone who really wants to celebrate a sustainable Christmas and does not have space in the garden for an organic-certified spruce from the pot, should reconsider the purchase of a Christmas tree, because: "The perfect tree only exists in the forest", says Enzenhofer.
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This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.