Royal Tannenbaums: How to Pick the Best and Greenest Christmas Tree

For many families, the centerpiece of Christmas celebrations is the luminous, awe-inspiring tree set up with care in the living room. But with all the options now available, how do you know which Christmas tree is the greenest choice for the environment?

Should you go for a real, fresh tree, as nearly 29 million households do, according to the National Christmas Tree Association? Most Christmas trees are now raised on established farms, meaning deforestation isn't an issue, but they must be shipped, often from long distances. They do require pesticides and fueled vehicles to maintain, and may end up taking up space in landfills.

Most artificial Christmas trees are made in China, typically from oil-derived, pollution-releasing polyvinyl chloride (PVC). A number have been found to contain lead. Once finally disposed of, artificial trees will last for centuries in landfills. These days, roughly 70% of Americans choose artificial.

According to many environmentalists, the greenest option for Christmas is a living, plantable "bulb" tree. This adorable one is from Smith & Hawken. Inside, the tree can wear ornaments and garland, and after Christmas it can be transplanted outdoors. You'll be adding to the planet's lungs and fighting global warming, as well as providing wildlife habitat. If you live in an apartment, or don't have room in your yard for an evergreen, see if you can donate it to someplace in your community.

It may not seem traditional, but the cheapest option is to simply decorate an outdoor tree for Christmas. You'll have more money in your pocket for gifts, not to mention rising energy bills and cost of living. True, unless you live in a warm climate, you aren't likely to want to open presents in your yard. But you may be able to decorate a tree that's close enough to a window to set the mood. You'll certainly be saving resources.

Another free, ultra-green alternative is to fashion your own "tree" from natural materials like driftwood, pine boughs, felled branches and the like. You won't be contributing to any new resource use and will be giving your own creativity a chance to flourish. With a little arranging and pruning, you'd be surprised how attractive you can make something, especially once you've hung the ornaments, lights and tinsel.

If you'd like a real Christmas tree without having to worry about transplanting it later, try to buy from a local sustainable or organic farm. By buying locally, you'll cut down on CO₂ emissions. And supporting sustainable and organic farms helps prevent environmental degradation wrought by pesticides on big conventional operations. Local Harvest features a list of beautiful live Christmas tree providers across the country. If you like, you may even be able to cut your own! When you are finished with your tree, make sure it is converted to mulch or compost.

Advocates of "going artificial" point out that a one-time purchase of a fake tree can save gas otherwise used for annual trips to a tree farm or shopping center, not to mention for cross-country shipping. Artificial trees are also convenient and require no pesticides, though they are made out of petroleum products. If you choose this option, try to find a tree made in the U.S., which greatly decreases the chances for contamination with lead or other toxins, preserves domestic manufacturing jobs and reduces shipping. Holiday Tree and Trim Co. makes theirs in New Jersey. If you must get rid of your artificial tree, check with local charities, shelters and churches to see if they can use it. Most recycling programs do not accept them, and they'll take many centuries to degrade in landfills.

So on balance, what's the greenest Tannenbaum? As we've shown it depends on a number of factors, although it's clear that using an outside tree or cobbling your own is likely to be the most eco-friendly. Next would be using a living tree you then plant, and harvesting a local, organically grown tree that is then replaced with a seedling or two. Finally, it's essentially a tossup between conventional live or artificial trees, though you can reduce your impact by buying American.