As Christmas approaches, it’s time to decorate your tree. But above all, we must choose it carefully to best respect the environment and answer the thorny question: should we opt for a natural tree or an artificial tree?
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Contrary to popular belief, the natural tree has a better carbon footprint since it is a renewable, biodegradable resource, which can be recycled into mulch or compost after Christmas.
The lifespan of an artificial tree is longer, but it would have to be kept for 20 years to make its carbon footprint profitable since it is made from plastic and metal. Very often it comes from Asia and it does not decompose naturally.
It is better to choose a natural fir tree, but any. In France, the majority of cultivated fir trees receive eight to ten chemical treatments per year and all these products go directly into the soil and groundwater. The best is to opt for a certified organic tree, because it does not receive any fertilizer or growth hormones. There are several labels, Les Sapins Bio de France, the Label Fleurs de France or the famous Label Rouge.
Christmas trees from small producers
These labeled fir trees are grown by small, passionate producers who grow them for seven to ten years before cutting them by hand. They replant as many trees as they sell. They do the weeding themselves and they keep insects away by releasing ladybugs. This represents a lot of work, because these are real crops, good for the planet, which promote CO2 and limit the greenhouse effect.
The trees are available directly from the producer, but also remotely, since it is possible to buy your tree online and have it delivered via click and collect. This is what France Sapin Bio, Racines du Morvan and Les Sapins Vendéens produce. Prices of course vary depending on size and species.