The Christmas tree is the centrepiece of the festive season – adorned with sparkling fairy lights, delicate baubles and carefully wrapped gifts placed beneath it – it’s no wonder so much emphasis is placed on them when December rolls around. But, what about when January hits and you’re finished with the tree? Unfortunately, around 6 million real Christmas trees will end up in landfill this year, according to waste management company Fresh Start (fswaste.co.uk). The methane these wasted trees will produce is said to have 25 times the potency of carbon dioxide – which is bad news for the planet.
But can plastic alternate trees ever be the better option given how difficult the material is to dispose of? While the manufacturing and shipping of artificial trees consumes a lot of energy – they’re commonly made in China, for example – they could be perceived as a more sustainable option, due to the fact you’ll use them year after year, unlike the real version.