The Environmental Impact of Cutting Christmas Trees: What You Need to Know

Cutting a real Christmas tree stops its CO₂ absorption, but the full picture depends on what happens next: locally-grown trees that are replanted and composted can beat artificial trees, which take many holiday seasons to offset their plastic and shipping footprint. The greenest option of all: enjoy your tradition AND plant a living tree that keeps growing.

Real vs artificial — the honest comparison

• Real, local, replanted: lowest impact — farms replant, trees absorb CO₂ while growing, and composting returns nutrients.
• Real but landfilled: worse — decomposing trees release methane.
• Artificial: plastic + manufacturing + shipping; needs roughly a decade of reuse to compete.
• Potted/living trees: great when they survive replanting.

Make the tradition net-positive

Whatever tree stands in your living room, you can flip the maths by planting real trees that live for decades. One geolocated tree planted today absorbs CO₂ year after year — long after the holidays. Gifting trees also replaces disposable presents with something that grows.

A greener gift

With Evertreen you can plant or gift geolocated trees from £1.5 — each one trackable on a map, planted in verified projects that support local communities. The recipient watches their tree grow: a Christmas gift with a future.

Frequently asked questions

Are real Christmas trees bad for the environment? Locally-grown, replanted and composted trees have a modest footprint — disposal method matters most.

Is an artificial tree greener? Only after many years of reuse; its plastic and shipping footprint is front-loaded.

What's the most sustainable choice? Keep your tradition and offset it by planting living trees — gift a geolocated tree that grows for decades.