Last updated on December 10th, 2025 at 04:52 pm

Choosing between a real and an artificial Christmas tree can feel confusing, but the good news is that the most sustainable option is clear—with some important conditions, including where the tree is sourced, and of you dispose of it.

Short answer: A real tree is the more sustainable choice—as long as it doesn’t end up in a landfill. Artificial trees can be somewhat low-impact when used long-term. Read on to learn how to choose the right option (including alternatives) for your home.

Live Christmas Trees

Who doesn’t love that fresh Christmas tree smell? Aaaahhhhhh. I’ve loved it since I was a kid.

According to the National Christmas Tree Association, there are close to 350 million trees currently growing on 15,000 Christmas tree farms throughout the U.S., which employs nearly 100,000 people full or part-time.

But then of course, the trees are eventually cut down.

Generally, we are conditioned to frown upon chopping down trees. But in the case of Christmas trees, there actually are significant benefits.

Christmas tree farms

Consider that trees sold for Christmas cheer would not have been growing in the first place if not planted by farmers. The average growing time for a Christmas tree is seven years, and despite trees being slow-growing, they are renewable, unlike the plastic used for artificial trees. The National Christmas Tree Association reports that for every real Christmas tree harvested, one to three seedlings are planted in its place the following spring, actually increasing the tree population.

In addition, numerous studies have found that Christmas tree farms play an important role in maintaining habitats for wildlife. For example, a study performed in the UK found that the farm attracted a wealth of fauna, including 40 different types of birds, numerous mammals, and insects like moths and ground beetles.

Quick tip: When possible, choose a tree grown locally to reduce shipping emissions.

Harvesting your own tree

At first glance, venturing out into the forest and cutting your own tree seems like a harmful practice, at least that’s what I thought at first. But it turns out that harvesting trees from dense areas actually is beneficial to forest health. According to the U.S. Forest Service, “if left uncut, these small trees can compete for resources and fuel catastrophic wildfires. Cutting Christmas trees allows other trees to grow larger and can open up areas that provide food for wildlife.”

Another perk is the opportunity for a memorable family adventure, and a low-cost one at that: permits generally cost less than $20. Get a National Forest permit here, or find one on BLM land.

O Tannenbaum’s pesticide problem

Pesticide use is a very important factor to consider with live Christmas trees. Six states—Oregon, Michigan, Pennsylvania, California, Florida, and Texas—grow 63% of Christmas trees in the United States and spray 270,000 pounds of pesticides each year.

Many of these chemicals have been linked to endocrine disruption, cognitive delay, ADD, and cancer. Farmworkers risk exposure, and pesticides are toxic to aquatic creatures that live in waterways near tree farms. Unfortunately, it is unclear how much pesticide residue remains on a tree after it is cut down and displayed in your home, so that is an unknown risk factor.

Only 1% of the 25 million live trees sold each year are purchased from organic farms that offer pesticide-free trees. If you’re lucky, you can find a tree farm near you that uses integrated pest management (IPM) rather than pesticides.

Choose a tree from a local organic farm, if available. Check The Filtery’s directory of organic tree farms, organized by state.

Live tree considerations

• Higher fire risk than artificial trees
• Potential for harboring hitchhikers or pests
• Presence of pollen or mold may be problematic for those with sensitive allergies
• Can be messy (sap, resin, sheds needles)
• Needs watering

How to dispose of your live Christmas tree

Inevitably, your tree starts looking a bit crispy and shedding like a golden retriever. Or maybe Valentine’s Day rolls around, and you’re reminded that it’s time to part ways.

Improper disposal of a live Christmas tree, i.e., sending it to the landfill, largely negates the benefits of choosing a real tree. A real tree that ends up in a landfill has a significantly higher carbon footprint than an artificial tree.

There’s only one hard and fast rule for disposing of a live Christmas tree: don’t let it end up in the landfill.

When a dead tree (or any type of organic matter) breaks down in nature, carbon dioxide is released. In contrast, when deposited in a landfill, the organic material gets buried by layers of trash and loses access to oxygen, significantly slowing decomposition. Instead of carbon dioxide, methane is released, which traps heat in the atmosphere 28 times more than carbon dioxide, contributing much more to global warming in both intensity and duration.

Luckily, there are many simple, responsible options to dispose of your tree after the holidays.

Municipal options

Make sure to check whether your area offers some type of “treecycling” or mulching service. This can be a curbside pickup, a yard waste bin, or a designated drop-off location. Some Boy Scout troops may offer tree pickup services.

Mulch or compost

If you’re a DIY kind of person, consider renting a wood chipper to create mulch or compost for your yard. Save money and split the cost with a neighbor.

Another option is to cut up the branches into smaller pieces and create a brush pile to serve as a winter shelter for pollinators and other insects.

Firewood

Surprisingly, burning the tree is reported to be an acceptable option. Simply put, the carbon dioxide stored by the tree while growing is released during this process, resulting in no net increase in emissions.

Other uses

There are also several surprising, eco-friendly, and creative ways to repurpose old Christmas trees.

• Fish habitat. If you have access to a pond, sinking your tree into it creates a refuge for fish and other aquatic creatures. According to Penn State Extension, “studies have found that species richness, diversity, and abundance of fish tend to increase with the presence of submerged trees with complex branching.” Your local branch of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or U.S. Forest Service may have projects using Christmas trees to create fish havens in larger bodies of water, such as lakes and reservoirs.
• Soil erosion barriers. Some communities have used Christmas trees to decrease land erosion, especially in coastal areas. To combat wetland degradation, the state of Louisiana has long collected trees to build up a natural levee. On the Connecticut coast, post-holiday trees have been used to trap sand and preserve beaches.
• Goat food. Goats will eat the needles and strip the bark from trees. Check with local goat owners or farms.
• Paths for hiking trails: Some areas might utilize shredded trees for natural path material.

Artificial Christmas Trees

The primary advantage of an artificial tree is that it can be reused for a long time, up to about 20 years, according to some sources.

However, despite the reusable nature of artificial trees, they are only used for an average of 6-9 years before being discarded, and 10 million new ones are sold in the U.S. each year, and 80-90% of those are manufactured in China and must travel long distances, contributing to carbon emissions.

The reported numbers for the total carbon footprint of an artificial tree versus a live tree are all over the place. But the consensus seems to be that a fake tree’s carbon footprint, if used for at least 5-10 years, becomes equal to or less than the annual purchasing of a live tree.

For further reading, try articles by the Carbon Trust, The Guardian, and Time.

What are artificial trees made of?

Most artificial Christmas trees are made from PVC (polyvinyl chloride), which, like other plastics, is produced from petroleum. PVC is widely used, but it has raised concerns because certain additives used during manufacturing can release small amounts of chemicals over time.

Common concerns associated with PVC trees

• They may contain chemical additives like flame retardants, lead-based stabilizers, phthalates, and bisphenol-A (BPA), all of which are associated with serious health problems.
• PVC production itself is energy-intensive and contributes significantly to an artificial tree’s carbon footprint.
• PVC recycling is extremely rare, and like all plastics, PVC is not biodegradable.

A safer alternative: PE (polyethylene) trees

Many companies now offer Christmas trees made from PE instead of PVC, which is considered a less problematic plastic. PE trees also tend to look more realistic because the molded branches hold their shape better.

Basalm Hill offers a good selection of PE Christmas trees. Stores such as Lowe’s carry multiple options; shop by filtering for PE.

Quick tip: Look for “100% PE,” “PE branches,” or “PVC-free” in the product description.

Reducing exposure in the home

If you already have a PVC artificial tree, there’s no need to panic. You can limit chemical exposure by:

• Giving the tree a light cleaning before decorating to help remove surface dust that may carry chemical particles. The easiest way is to gently vacuum the branches with a brush attachment or take the tree outside and shake it to release settled dust.
• Using an air purifier if you have concerns about indoor air quality.
• Keeping the tree away from sunlight, humidity, and extreme or drastic temperature fluctuations.

What to do with an old artificial Christmas tree

Donate your tree to a thrift shop or post it on an online marketplace if it is still in good condition. A variety of non-profit organizations, such as The Christmas Tree Project, collect trees to pass on to those in need.

If your tree is unsalvageable, there is no other option than for it to spend the rest of its very long existence in the landfill.

Christmas tree variations & alternatives

If you’re not invested in a traditional Christmas tree, consider a creative, low-waste alternative. Many of these simple options are also low- or no-cost.

Rent a live tree

This is a newer concept, so a company that offers this service may be hard to come by. Examples include LivingChristmas.com and RentXmasTree.com, both of which only serve California.

Decorate a plant or tree you already own

Buy a living Christmas tree

You can go even bigger (and much heavier) and get yourself a potted or even balled and burlapped tree with the intention of planting it after the holidays. This takes some planning, as you’d want to know the mature size and the desired location to plant. It’s best to dig the hole before the ground freezes, and if that isn’t possible, keep the tree watered until the ground thaws.

This option is more labor-intensive and can only be done a finite number of times unless you have a larger property. Click for some tips on caring for a living Christmas tree if you want to know more.

Decorate an outdoor tree

Use any variety of lights and ornaments to decorate one of your landscape trees, or better yet, create a bird feeding station. Enlist the kids in a pinecone bird feeder craft project or one of these other fun feeder ideas. Don’t be too proud to relive your preschool days and make some yourself! Hang fresh orange slices and strung popcorn or fresh cranberries to provide passing birds with a Christmas treat.

Make your own Christmas tree

If I see the word craft, I run away immediately. But there are a million options for you crafty Craftersons to dig into your creativity and go all out. I’ve seen ideas for making trees with anything from books to alcohol bottles, and I think this one made from driftwood is super cute. You can construct one from natural materials harvested from your yard or midnight ops to the neighbor’s. Think of pruned branches from others’ Christmas trees, fallen branches, driftwood, pine cones, and holly branches. I’m sure the world of Pinterest has you covered for more ambitious ideas than you could ever dream of, or for less overwhelming inspiration, check out these DIY Christmas tree ideas from BoredPanda.

Skip a tree altogether

It’s perfectly ok to nix this Christmas tradition in favor of creating some holiday cheer in another way.

Final Thoughts on Christmas trees

If you’re willing to part from the traditional tree in favor of one of the alternatives, that is going to be the best, most environmentally friendly route to take.

But if you’re one of those who are emotionally attached to this deep-seated Christmas tradition, as many of us are, then you’re left with a decision.

My final conclusion

Choosing between a real or artificial Christmas tree isn’t as straightforward as it seems, but the good news is that a more sustainable choice is always possible. Real trees are the most sustainable choice overall, being renewable and biodegradable, and especially when sourced locally and kept out of the landfill. Artificial trees can also be a low-impact option when they’re used for many years or purchased secondhand or PVC-free.

What matters most is choosing the option that feels right for your home while reducing the impacts you can control. Whether that’s treecycling a live tree, giving a second life to an old artificial one, or trying a creative alternative altogether, every mindful decision helps. Sustainability is a journey, and each season offers another chance to make small, meaningful improvements.

Looking for other ways to go green this holiday season? Find thoughtful, eco-friendly gifts for everyone on your list, and then follow with low-waste gift wrapping ideas.