Eco Friendly Christmas Tree | Shared by Green Cleaning Products

What is an eco friendly Christmas tree?  A real tree, an artificial one, or a live potted plant?  Pros and cons for each. Green Cleaning Products shares.

Green Cleaning Products LLC has been providing green living oriented educational materials for years.  This year there is a focus on ensuring that, in addition to using and enjoying the ecofriendly cleaning products and supplies offered under the Cleans Green™ brand, you and your loved ones can enjoy a green Christmas.

The Christmas holiday seems to revolve around the Christmas tree, a beloved tradition, but if you care about the environment, what is the best choice?

There is a debate about using real trees or an artificial one for your eco friendly Christmas tree. If you choose a real tree plan to turn it into compost when festivities are over.  If you choose an artificial tree plan to use it for years.  Even better, live potted trees can be used and live for years.  Real trees consume a relatively small volume if it is chipped and composted properly versus the amount of CO2 that is required to make an artificial tree.  A live potted tree that is later planted in your garden will increase the number of plants in our ecosystem.

What is the Best EcoFriendly Christmas Tree?

Six options to consider in your decision making process with respect to selecting your eco friendly Christmas tree as you prepare for the holiday season:

1. Real Trees. Nearly all of the trees sold at seasonal Christmas tree lots are grown on tree farms so forests are not hurt by choosing a cut tree.  Unfortunately for most of us the trees come from afar (Oregon or North Carolina).  If you can get a tree that is grown closer to home, you will save energy, help reduce climate change, and minimize the extra pesticides that are sometimes applied before trees are shipped long distances. Additionally locally produced trees contribute to air quality while growing.  Chip it or burn the real tree it when it is done.
2. Artificial Trees consume significant energy and petroleum-based materials during their manufacture.  But a one-time purchase of an artificial tree can save the chemicals and water consumption of growing a tree as well as the gas otherwise used for annual trip obtain a real tree. Finding a way for the tree to be reused rather than disposed of is always desirable.
3. Live Potted Trees help add trees to our planet.  (Be aware although it is a good concept often they do not fare well in unseasonably warm homes.)  To increase the length of time you can use it indoors, be sure to re-pot the tree.  The major disadvantage is that you can only keep the tree in the house for about a week before it needs to get in the ground. Other tips: Dig the hole for the root ball now, before the ground freezes.  Buy a tree that is big enough to enjoy for Christmas, but light enough that you can easily move from the house to your yard. Keep the root ball watered until you get the tree planted, then continue to water as you would any newly planted tree.
4. Rosemary Christmas Trees are popular because they are edible.  Additionally they are fragrant, living, and can be decorated while doubling as an herb to cook with. With proper care, they will last past the winter season.
5. Buy a cardboard Christmas Tree that is made from recycled cardboard. It can be decorated with paper, crayons or paint, but is just as attractive right out of the box.
6. Craft Your Own eco friendly Christmas tree out of evergreen clippings, dried flowers and weeds.  Your Christmas trees do not have to be a pine tree at all.

For more ideas on how to green your Christmas download the free eBook, ‘Tis the Season to Green Your Christmas: Why (and How) to Have a Joyous Eco Holiday Season, written by Rae Ann Dougherty, the founder of Green Cleaning Products LLC.

Looking for a truly unique, but treasured eco friendly gift this season for your Mother, Grandmother, Sister, Aunt or Girlfriend?  The Fluffy Microfiber Duster by Cleans Green™ may be the perfect gift!  It is available from Amazon at www.BestDuster.com.

Seeking more great ideas to ensure your Christmas holidays are as green as they can be?  Get your own copy of the ‘Tis the Season to Green Your Christmas: Why (and How) to Have a Joyous Eco Holiday Season eBook.  This is where you will find more than 80 ideas to celebrate while you are saving the planet.

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This download includes your free subscription for the Green Living News which provides valuable educational oriented information throughout the year.