Whether bold or simple , the Christmas tree is always present in the decoration of the most magical time of the year . Traditionally, a large part of the population opts for artificial trees or cut natural trees. At Bioma, we advocate that Christmas trees should be natural (and alive!). They should be cared for by the whole family and accompanied by ... The growth of the whole family , throughout the consecutive Christmas seasons.
Blue fir and glauca spruce , for example, are excellent options for those who want to take a step towards sustainability, with the comfort and convenience of having them delivered directly to their home.
These are the reasons why we choose living trees!
They are the most sustainable option.
Every year, more than 30 million pine or fir trees are cut down for sale during the Christmas season in Europe alone. After fulfilling their role during the festive season, most end up in open-air landfills, mixed with other waste, quickly releasing all the carbon they stored over the approximately 5 to 10 years of growth (average growth time for trees of this species that are 1.50 - 2 meters tall). In simple terms , years of carbon retention from the atmosphere are completely wasted. A potted pine tree, for example, can be kept healthy throughout the year, continuing to grow and absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This is a way to reduce the waste associated with cutting down trees and minimize the environmental impact, especially during a period of high consumption.
They are hardy and easy to care for.
With plenty of watering and natural light, natural Christmas trees are very hardy and hardly shed any leaves. In contrast, cut trees are more fragile and end up making a mess on the house floor during the Christmas season. What we can guarantee is that potted pine trees are adaptable to different environments (from bright rooms to covered balconies), and do not require complicated fertilization. With some simple care, such as keeping the soil slightly moist and avoiding sudden temperature changes, they can remain healthy for months! Another benefit is that they can be reused in subsequent years or transplanted to the garden, making them a practical and ecological option that combines tradition, beauty and sustainability.
They strengthen family ties.
By caring for the Christmas tree over several years, we can observe not only its growth, but also the evolution of the family. An interesting experiment, for example, would be to photograph the family next to the Christmas tree and observe the development of all its elements.
Both the Blue Fir and the Glaucous Spruce are easy-to-care-for Christmas trees, slow-growing, and can be reused year after year!
The impact on the planet is less.
Most of the components that make up artificial Christmas trees are produced from PVC plastic. PVC is derived from petroleum, produced in highly polluting refineries. In addition to the environmental risks of this activity, several public health risks may be associated with it.
After their production, artificial Christmas trees have to be transported to stores for sale , traveling thousands of kilometers in containers on large, polluting, inefficient ships with a large ecological footprint. Subsequently , they travel from the ports to the points of sale in equally polluting trucks.
At the end of their useful lifespan, whether because the design is no longer appealing, because they are damaged, or for any other reason, artificial trees end up in incinerators or landfills, where they take hundreds of years to decompose and release abundant amounts of polluting gases into the atmosphere. Our advice for anyone who has an artificial tree is to reuse it as much as possible for as many years as possible!
And why shouldn't we buy pre-cut Christmas trees?
Cutting down a tree every year just to decorate the house for about a month is a tradition in many countries. For this reason, the Sightline Institute conducted a study on the ecological footprint of this activity and found that natural Christmas trees that are cut down can have a larger ecological footprint than artificial trees, if the latter are reused for at least 5 years. In short, during those 5 years, five trees are growing, retaining carbon from the atmosphere and producing oxygen, only to be cut down and slowly die inside a house.
Choosing a live Christmas tree means choosing to celebrate Christmas consciously, respecting the cycle of nature and passing on values of sustainability to younger generations! If you are looking for a natural pine tree to celebrate this and other Christmases with you, but don't know which one to choose, count on our help!
