Nature Canada

Your Green Christmas Guide

Samantha Nurse, Web and Social Media Coordinator

Samantha Nurse, Web and Social Media Coordinator

Image of a Spruce Tree

Get a tree like this Spruce Tree!

Dreaming of a green Christmas?

You can lower your carbon footprint, save money and still have a wonderfully festive Christmas this year!From christmas trees to gift wrap to lighting, try these eco-tips for celebrating a green Christmas.Here’s our tip.

Looking for a Christmas tree? Get real!

Many artificial trees contain contaminants and all are made from petroleum products. Fake trees also travel long distances to reach your local store, which means each one leaves a hefty carbon footprint.

A real tree is a better alternative, but often even real trees come from a significant distance, creating a bigger carbon footprint than the ecologically minded person would like. You can try to buy from a local tree farmer, but there is a third option, one that is becoming more and more popular every year: live Christmas trees.

Like fresh cut real trees, live Christmas trees help remove carbon from the environment and provide a home and food for wildlife while they are growing. Better yet, they end up right back on the job when they are replanted after the holidays. So while live trees may not be the cheapest alternative, they are by far the best ecologically.

Imagine continuing to enjoy the beauty of a Christmas tree all year round. Think of the wildlife that might visit to nest or feed every year!

If planting a tree at home is not an option, donating it to a watershed management or conservation group is another way of helping the environment. You’ll find groups with tree-planting programs in most communities, but be sure to look into this before buying. There may be specific types of trees that can or can’t be used in the area.

Finally, consider renting a live Christmas tree. This way all the benefits of a living tree are there without the hassle of caring for it throughout the rest of the year. Some of the companies that sell real fresh cut and live Christmas trees also provide the option of renting rather than purchasing.

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