Don't forget to think about decorations! (Photo: Brad Deller)
The holiday season is upon us. As we dust off our reusable gift bags and set the timers on our strings of energy-efficient LED lights, many of us wonder how we can rise to the next level of holiday greening. Some will hand-make something special or donate to charity in lieu of gifts.
There are many ways to celebrate the season thoughtfully and sustainably, and we suggest that this year you rethink one of the season’s biggest icons: the Christmas tree.
So many options: plastic, picked or potted. Which one is best? Here we offer some tips on how to choose.
Plastic Trees
Though some may tell you this is a good choice because of it’s ability to be reused, the toxic polyvinyl chloride (PVC) required to make them, the use of fossil fuels to transport them, and its non-biodegradable qualities may not outweigh the benefits of reuse.
Picked Biological Tree
You may have doubts about cutting down a tree that would otherwise be thriving on it’s own, but it is possible to select a real tree and feel good about your choice. Get to know your local tree farmer and learn about environmentally responsible Christmas tree farming. A sustainable tree farmer will only harvest trees of a certain age, and will replant a sapling for every mature tree harvested. Find out what happens to trees that are collected at the curb. Are they composted or sent to the landfill?
Potted Trees
This is a fairly new trend and certainly the most eco-friendly option! Choose a potted tree (or for the chef in you, try a rosemary bush!) from your local nursery, bring it to your home and decorate it and then replant it in the spring! Your city may even have an organization that will rent you a potted tree and pick it up after the holidays – like Carbon Sync in Vancouver.
How do you handle the Christmas tree dilemma? Leave a comment to share your insights and inspiration.
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jessicamnagy
There’s a company called Evergrow in Vancouver (not sure if there’s an equivalent in Toronto?) that rents out Christmas trees.
They drop the potted tree off at your home and pick it up after Christmas to care for it further until it become too large for the pot and is planted!
I love the potted rosemary idea.
Two years ago I just used a vase to hold a lush “bouquet” of small pine branches. This had all the charm and woodsy scent of a real tree, but without the waste. It was also a perfect fit for my tiny apartment.
It looked great with some small decorations. I did buy it from a store, but now that I think about it, what a perfect way to get some extra use out of someone’s yard trimmings!