大象传媒 Scotland - 大象传媒 Scotland - Rockin鈥� around the ethical Christmas tree 馃巹馃巹馃巹馃巹

Rockin鈥� around the ethical Christmas tree 馃巹馃巹馃巹馃巹

Artificial Christmas trees. They can be reused every year, so they’re more environmentally-friendly ...right?

But what do you do once they’ve reached the end of their life? The various plastics from which they’re manufactured make these trees difficult to recycle.

Cath Seeds, a lecturer at Scotland’s Rural College, explained to Mornings with Stephen Jardine that, each year, waste relating to the disposal of Christmas trees amounts to an estimated 160,000 tonnes.

And their carbon footprint – given that artificial trees are not necessarily produced locally and therefore need transporting – further reduces their environmental friendliness.

The alternatives: ethical Christmas tree options

A real tree grown as locally as possible — that’s what Cath describes as the best option. Even better still are those grown in a pot their whole life, rather than grown elsewhere and potted later.

Trees grown by the have, according to Cath, been grown with the lightest achievable impact on the environment.

You can also rent a Christmas tree, plant it in your home and return it at the end of the season. You can even rent back your previous tree next year.

But what if it gets too big for the house? Cath addressed that too, suggesting that the tree can be planted outside, with birdseed and fat ball decorations — an even more environmentally friendly Christmas tree for nearby wildlife to enjoy.