For a long time I didn't realize that, in Milwaukee, trees placed curbside were sent to landfill, and in order to get them composted you need to take them to a drop off center. It's free though! Will be doing that this year
My family has been using the same fake christmas tree for 30 years and it's still in mint condition. I remember when i was younger that i would complain about not having a real tree, but now i see how much money we saved by using the same tree and how good it is for the environment
Negative aspect of real christmas trees, no matter, where they are from: monocultures kill our biodiversity. And christmas trees are grown in monocultures... They are not local to Germany at all, normally we have oaks, beeches, birches etc. So they take up room in nature where healthy forests could grow that offer food and room for our wildlife. It’s not only about carbon emissions and plastic when you want to be eco-friendly... Because of that I don‘t buy any tree at all.
Great video! Two things to add - getting a used artificial tree doesn't create any demand and it's very likely that the previous owner had it for a long time / if you're in the right climate, you can get a potted fresh tree which you can keep in your garden during the year and bring inside to decorate for Christmas.
But often the tree does not do well when you do that year after year. It cannot grow roots properly when it’s disturbed again and again and the change of cold (outside) and warm (inside) is not so good for the tree as well.
There aren’t any Christmas lights produced in the US or anywhere else besides China. They are as far as I know all produced using forced labor. It’s why I suggest: 1) swapping lights 2) buying used but test all old lights for fitness as they create fire hazards 3) foregoing lights and instead use ribbon or garlands. Most people aren’t aware how bad the Christmas decor industry is or how far reaching it is.
My family never got Christmas trees so never really had to think about ways to repurpose them, but my friend's family would get a Christmas tree with roots (that is something you can buy here in the Netherlands). So after Christmas they would put it in their garden and take care of it, and with each Christmas they would reuse the same tree because it would still be alive and happy
If you care for your Christmas tree and DON'T CUT THE TOP OFF* you might be able to plant it out again. If you get a tree to have outdoor you can put it straight into the ground and it might root. *The apical (top) shoot of a plant produces a hormone called auxin which promotes root growth and inhibits lateral growth (side shoots). If you want a bushy plant you cut the top off, if you want roots you leave it alone.
This Christmas I'm living with family members so most of the Christmas stuff is packed.....somewhere...... But i was able to find one box..yaaa... but is was mostly full of the reusable cloth gift bags and one limb of our small plastic tree that had fallen off last year. Since I had been learning about my Scandinavian heritage this year I went to the thrift store and found a Lg glass vase and placed the tree branch and some wreath peg insert things in the vase, set it on a glass platter that was left behind by a guest at work months ago, added a few candles and a few more of those wreath peg things ( they have these foam balls on a stem that have been coated with a cream colored substance. Not sure what they are supposed to be. Really not eco-friendly but I bought them before I was learning about eco-friendliness. so no judging please) on the edge of the platter and it looks amazing. one thing about real pine trees. you must water them just like a house plant. If you don't they can become a fire hazard. this is why most landlords don't allow them.
No judgement from me! I think I have some of those foam things you're talking about. I bought them a long time ago and will continue to use them. The most eco thing you can do is use what you have
This was super helpful! I had no idea about Christmas town!!! :0 so depressing to hear this is going on... Do you think the fake trees at a thrift shop or Goodwill (I've seen several there) are probably safe now since they've been around for awhile or is there still possibility of unsafe chemical emissions in my home?
I know for mattresses the off gassing period is around three years. So, I definitely think a secondhand one would be better - but I haven't read any studies about it. This is just my best guess.
