The short answer
In most cases, a real tree is the greener choice, as long as it's recycled rather than sent to landfill. Experts at the University of Melbourne conclude that most fake Christmas trees have a significantly larger carbon footprint than a real tree.
What a fake tree is made of
Most artificial trees are made from PVC, which the University of Melbourne's experts describe as a non-recyclable plastic, while a real tree is a renewable resource. Most of an artificial tree's carbon footprint is spent before it ever reaches your home: the Carbon Trust estimates about two-thirds of it comes from the plastic, and about a quarter from manufacturing the tree.
The numbers
| A 2 m tree | Carbon footprint |
|---|---|
| Artificial | about 40 kg CO₂e |
| Real, sent to landfill | about 16 kg CO₂e (it gives off methane as it rots) |
| Real, chipped or burned | about 3.5 kg CO₂e |
These are the Carbon Trust's estimates, made for the UK. Real figures depend on where a tree is grown, how far it travels and how it's disposed of.
How long would you need to keep a fake tree?
To come out ahead of a real tree, an artificial one has to be reused for many years: at least ten, by the Carbon Trust's estimate, and some studies say longer. If you already own one, the greenest thing to do is keep using it for as long as you can.
Making a real tree the green choice
- Recycle it after Christmas. In Boroondara, the council collects real trees from the nature strip in January and turns them into mulch for parks and gardens (book a collection), or you can cut it up to fit in your FOGO bin.
- Keep it out of landfill, where it gives off methane as it breaks down.
- Look after it so it lasts: our care guide shows how.