Eco Green Tips

photo credit: jekert gwapo

Christmas tree is essential to many holiday celebrations and for most constitutes a centerpiece with the beautiful decorations. But how do you choose the greenest tree available? Nowadays, there are many options to choose from but all are eco-friendly so how do you pick from live, fresh or artificial trees?

The artificial tree may seem like the greenest choice but they are mainly made in China from oil-derived, polluting PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and may even contain lead. And when they end up in landfills the artificial trees will last there for centuries and contaminate soil and waterways. Fresh trees may be a better choice these days, mainly because they are grown on farms, which prevents deforestation. However, these trees usually require the use of pesticides and are often shipped from long distances.

Here are some ideas for an eco-friendly Christmas tree:

1.  Buy live, plantable or bulb tree—these trees come in a pot and can be decorated like any other tree, and after the holidays these trees can be planted outside, which will help the planet breath easier, fight global warming and provide habitat for wildlife.

2. Make your own tree—possible the greenest option available since you’ll be making your tree out of natural materials, e.g. driftwood, pine boughs, felled branches, pine cones etc. Not only will you not be using up precious resources and contributing to waste but also you’ll have a unique creation that can be surprisingly beautiful when decorated. And it may end up being the talk of the neighborhood.

3.  Purchase organic or local sustainable farm trees—by buying either organic or from a local sustainable farm, you will reduce CO2 emissions and support local farmers as well as prevent environmental degradation. And after Christmas, make sure that your tree is made into mulch or compost.

4.  Buy American-made artificial trees—if you prefer artificial trees, make sure that you purchase American-made since it lowers the chances of the item being contaminated with toxins or lead. Some experts claim that one-time purchase of an artificial tree saves on greenhouse gasses as well as pesticide use. If you’re disposing of your artificial tree, try donating to charity organizations since most recycling programs will not accept them.

This entry was posted on Monday, December 8th, 2008 at 10:07 am and is filed under Environment, Products, Shopping, Tips. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.