Sustainability: These Christmas trees do not harm the environment

sustainability
These Christmas trees do not harm the environment

The Christmas tree from the nearby forest is usually better for the environment.

© Jingjits Photography / shutterstock.com

The majority of all Christmas trees are harmful to the environment. If you don't want to do without tradition, you should use these alternatives.

Around 29 million Christmas trees are in German living rooms every year. Most of the firs come from monocultures, are coated in pesticides or imported from abroad – that leads to a pretty bad environmental balance. But there are more and more sustainable alternatives so that you don't have to do without tradition.

Certified organic Christmas trees

Organic is on everyone's lips, even when it comes to Christmas trees. Because nobody wants to put a chemical thrower in the house for the holidays. They can be recognized by the seals of organic farming associations such as EU-Bio, Biokreis, Bioland, Demeter or Naturland. Artificial fertilizers and pesticides are taboo here and the trees thus make a small contribution to species protection.

Christmas tree from the region

The most popular Christmas tree among Germans is the Nordmann fir. The problem: Originally this does not grow at all in this country, but often has a long transport route from Denmark, Hungary or Poland behind it. The better alternative is to use regional conifers such as spruce, pine or fir. Or to make sure that the Nordmann fir was grown regionally. Regional forest companies often cultivate these on special areas. The short transport route has a positive effect on the ecological footprint and the Christmas tree can enter the living room without a guilty conscience.

Christmas trees from fair trade conditions

Around 90 percent of the seeds for Nordmann firs come from Georgia, where the cone pickers often work under unfair conditions. The Danish company "Fair Trees" wants to change this: It pays the workers a reasonable wage and ensures safety in the workplace. The trees with the "Fair Trees" seal are available in various German hardware stores.

Borrow a Christmas tree in a pot

Borrowing Christmas trees is becoming increasingly popular. Some tree nurseries, foresters and gardeners offer the alternative of renting the tree instead of buying it. This is how it works: The Christmas tree is slowly used to warmer indoor temperatures, put in a pot in the living room and watered regularly. After he has "done his job", he comes back to the landlord, is replanted and allowed to continue growing.

Pay attention to natural Christmas decorations

Once you have decided on a tree, its care is important. This includes, for example, decorations made from materials that are as natural as possible, glitter particles should not end up on the tree, as it is then no longer completely compostable. Instead, you should use decorations made of wood, fabric ribbons, paper, straw or something edible, such as cookies or gingerbread. To maintain the Christmas tree, you can regularly spray your needles with water – this will keep it fresh longer.

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