Do you dream for Christmas ofa traditional ornament, which reminds us of the forest? It is obviously the natural fir that is essential – and with a spruce, you will also rediscover the sensations of your childhood, including the smell of resin, so particular and increasingly rare. If, on the other hand, you are looking for a practical solution, the artificial tree has no rival. You bring it up every year in the cold, from the cellar or garage, it is easy to assemble, does not require maintenance and can be stored after use – no more thorns to vacuum up, the bag to pack and the transport of the tree use. We weighed the pros and cons.
Which is the greenest?
Natural fir trees are grown in special fields and the young plants replace the cut trees. 80% of them are produced in France – check it on the label or rely on the Fleurs de France label. Most often, they follow short delivery circuits. To fight against waste, take a pine tree pot : you can reuse it the following year or replant it in your garden.
To monitor : the use of phytosanitary products. Choose organic, Plante bleue or Label rouge labels.
Artificial trees mostly come from China. They are based on plastic, from the petrochemical industry, and steel, for the branches, trunk and base, the extraction of which is costly in terms of resources and carbon emissions. Many of them are flocked, with products that can be toxic. Finally, transport must be taken into account, from the producing country to the distributor, then from the distributor to the store. To improve your ecological balance sheet, you have to keep it and reuse it for a long time.
Which is the most sustainable?
The artificial tree is the champion of reuse: in theory, it can be resurrected endlessly. But in 2009, a Canadian study calculated that to improve its carbon footprint, it would have to be preserved for around twenty years. However, in reality, it is most often kept between three and six years. As for recycling, given its different materials, it is practically impossible. The only solution is to give it a second life by… giving it away.
The natural fir loses its thorns after a month, at most, but it recycles very well. After the holidays, return it to a recycling center or collection point, as many municipalities have set up – according to a Kantar study for the AFSSN*, 83% of French people drop it off at this appropriate location rather than on the sidewalk. Your tree will turn into shavings for public gardens. You can also use it as firewood. Please note, flocked trees, with glue and synthetic materials, are not recyclable.
Good plan : some brands offer to rent potted trees and replant them after the holidays.
Which is the cheapest?
Among the natural Christmas trees, Nordmann is the benchmark: it represents almost eight out of ten purchases. Of course, it doesn’t feel anything, but its thorns resist until the end of the holidays. Its price, on average? €32.60, compared to €22.80 for a spruce of equal size. Add a few euros for an organic tree.
The price of artificial trees suffers from inflation, which affects both raw materials and transport. Count between a few euros for the cheapest, and of less good quality, to more than €2,000 for the high-end, large size with decoration – from the Balsam Hill brand in particular, a reference in the field. Its average price increased from €49.60 in 2022 compared to €45.50 the previous year.
Fir cultivation is very regulated
“We must not confuse forest products with Christmas trees. It has been a long time since trees have been cut down in the forest. This is exceptional and, you should know, the work of margoulins. This is no longer a subject: since 2003, the cultivation of Christmas trees has been very regulated. Buying a natural tree does not mean participating in the deforestation of France. It’s like buying a bouquet of flowers, the joy of the Christmas holidays in addition.”
Thanks to Frédéric Naudet, president of the French Natural Christmas Tree Association (AFSNN)
How to make a Christmas tree without a tree?
Decorate your green plant with balls and garlands, draw a silhouette of a fir tree in wool and pins on a wall, use cut-out paper and decorate with balls and sticky paste… With a minimum of tools, you will put together a whole one made of cardboard or by boning a wooden pallet. Your Christmas tree will be less traditional, but it will certainly have its little effect. And it will be greener than all the others.
Read also :
⋙ Our advice for making your Christmas tree last
⋙ Christmas tree: be careful of the risk of allergies!
⋙ When should you buy your tree so that it looks the most beautiful at Christmas?