Hey, Green Junkie!
Tell me, are you a real tree lover or do you stick with an artificial tree every year at Christmas?
This question can often spark the most interesting debates because we have so many deep-rooted traditions tied up into what kind of tree we put presents under.
And I totally get that.
Part of the fun of the holiday season is the deeply rooted traditions and the fond and heartwarming memories we have attached to them.
So how do we preserve our traditions and honour them while still being more conscious in what we bring into our home?
Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered in this episode.
Here’s what to expect:
- The truth about artificial trees
- The carbon footprint of your current tree
- How long do you need to keep and use your artificial tree to make it more sustainable
- How your artificial tree might be impacting your health
- What you need to know about using real trees (hint: they’re not always sustainable either)
- The best places to find your trees this holiday season
- Some fun DIY options if you love crafting
You’ll discover that and so much more in this episode.
By the end of this episode, Green Junkie, you’ll have more knowledge about what tree you should choose in your home and how to make your current tree more sustainable.
If you love this podcast be sure to leave a review and share a screenshot of this episode to your IG stories. Tag @greenjunkiepodcast so I can shout you out and publicly say thanks.
Thanks for listening and being here.
Your green bestie,
Xoxo Stephanie
Previous Episodes Mentioned:
How to Host an Eco-Friendly Holiday Party
The Ultimate Sustainable Holiday Gift Guide
Resources:
Sources:
https://www.carbontrust.com/es/node/532
https://www.goodgirlgonegreen.com/rent-a-christmas-tree/
https://www.hgtv.com/lifestyle/holidays/alternative-christmas-trees-pictures
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LISTEN BELOW
TRANSCRIPT FOR EPISODE 13
0:08 Hi Green Junkie. I'm your host Stephanie Moram and today I'm going to be talking about sustainable and creative Holiday Tree ideas.
0:15 Every year around November trees all over the world begin to light up for the holiday season. But there are many questions about which type of tree is the most sustainable and environmentally friendly. The truth is, both natural and fake trees do have their drawbacks and their benefits. But the ideal choice is a real tree that helps fight climate change, sucks up carbon dioxide and can be composted.
0:38 When you take a step back and look at the big picture, though, things can get a little bit more complicated, so today we will go over all of the little hidden secrets behind your holiday trees.
0:46 If you love learning new ways you can reduce your impact on the environment, please subscribe to the Green Junkie podcast on Apple, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. That way you will never miss another episode. Now let's dive in.
1:02 So let's talk about artificial trees. They're not truly sustainable. Sure, you can reuse them over and over again every single year. But at what cost to the environment? They're usually made of PVC, which is very hard to recycle and they're often imported from outside of Canada and the US.
1:22 According to carbon focus, a two-meter-tall tree has a carbon footprint of 3.5 kilos of co2. And if the tree ends up in a landfill, that number jumps to 16 kilos of co2. But an artificial tree's carbon footprint is 40 kilos of co2. This means you would have to at minimum reuse the same tree for 12 years to make it a greener option. According to nature.org 10 million artificial trees are purchased each season in the US. That is a flipping high number. Nearly 90% of them are then shipped across the world from China, resulting in an increase in carbon emissions.
2:09 Like I mentioned, an artificial tree is made from PVC and sprayed with fire-retardant chemicals. In addition, PVC releases VOCs, which are volatile organic compounds, which are gases that can irritate your eyes, throat, nose, and lungs. Because of the plastic materials, these trees are made up of, most artificial trees, as I mentioned above cannot be recycled and they just end up in your landfill. If you really, really, really, really want an artificial tree, I suggest looking for a second-hand tree before you decide to buy a brand new one.
2:48 Let's chat about real trees. Each year in the US 25 to 30 million trees are sold. There's also a very large amount of trees that are sold every year. And that is just in the US. That one tree may take five to six years to grow. Some holiday tree farms use pesticides and fertilizers to grow their trees and then those pesticides and fertilizers can pollute our waterways and land and can affect wildlife. And then after the holidays, assuming that you do not have a recycling tree program, some of those trees just end up in landfills. And since typical trees aren't growing everywhere in Canada, or everywhere in the United States, or everywhere in the world, that large colourful decoration taking up residence by the living room window may have travelled hundreds of miles just to get to you.
3:44 So you can see that there's not an easy answer to this question real versus fake. But real trees are better for the environment. They're really important to our environment. One single farm tree absorbs one ton of carbon dioxide throughout its lifetime. When you consider the millions of trees growing in tree farms each year, just imagine how much co2 is being absorbed.
4:11 In addition, every acre of trees produces enough daily oxygen for 18 people. And every time a tree is harvested, two to three seedlings are planted in its place the following spring. Buying real trees will definitely help tree farms stay in business and in turn, it helps keep the healthy forest habitat that our wildlife depends on surviving.
4:35 Like I said, there are definitely pros and cons to the real versus fake. But the ideal choice would be to find a local organic farm that isn't using pesticides and fertilizers to grow its trees. You could also consider renting a tree with roots and returning the tree to the farm that it uses. I will be talking more about that later in the episode.
5:01 So now I'm going to talk about creative DIY tree ideas. So let's talk about DIY trees and making your own. So are you feeling crafty? Mix your creativity with eco-living this holiday season. I'm also in the show notes gonna drop the different links to these tutorials, so you can have a better understanding of what I'm talking about.
5:25 So number one, if you're a book lover, have you ever thought of creating a holiday tree of books, you've probably seen some of these pictures on Pinterest and maybe on Instagram. Stack books in a circle shape, making every top layer smaller and closer together, which will eventually make an upside-down tree or cone shape. So there you have your book tree. Again, it's not traditional, but you can still decorate it and make it look super, super pretty in your house.
5:54 How about a cardboard tree? Save money with a DIY tree made from cardboard, a kind of basic tree shape outline of the cardboard, ensuring the bottom stays flat and decorate it with light. Again, I'm going to put the link to this tutorial in the show notes so you can get a better understanding of what I'm talking about.
6:12 Next, you can make a plywood tree all you need is two pieces of scrap plywood and a free afternoon. So mark a center mark and from there you draw a line to each corner of the plywood and use a saw to cut the wood into triangle shapes. To make the tree stand up. grab the four pieces and screw them together. The end result is a modern wooden tree that you can decorate and do whatever you want. And you can use it every single year. And if you have kids, maybe they can paint it.
6:44 Another similar idea is a wood pellet tree. So if you have some palettes lying around that you want to reuse, cut the palette into the shape of a tree. Cut diagonally from corner to corner with a saw, you can use tape to mark where you need to cut them. Add finishing touches to the tree by standing it down painting and decorating. Lean it against the wall or you can stand it up. Again, another creative way is that you can have a really pretty tree in your house without getting an artificial one or even getting a real tree.
7:19 Another idea is a chalk wall tree. Maybe thinking okay, my kids play with chalk on the ground why am I going to put chalk in my house? Well, you see, you could draw a tree using chalk and then string yarn or garland around the flat graphic chalkboard to decorate it. So you do need a chalkboard to create this, I wouldn't suggest taking chalk and you know, decorating your wall. I mean if that's what you want to do with your walls, you can do that but probably having a chalkboard is better.
7:51 Next for a rustic vibe make a terracotta tree stack terracotta pots on top of each other and drape rope around the outside to make a charming holiday tree or decoration. And you can find these types of pots at a local plant store. Or if you are a gardener and you happen to have terracotta plants, you can just reuse this for the holiday season.
8:14 And lastly, you can decorate the silhouette of a tree using lights on your wall or one of my favourites. You can go the Charlie Brown route and put a red ornament on a simple tree branch.
8:26 And then another idea let's talk about potted plants. Their cost-effective holiday tree is using a potted plant. Do you have a large potted plant that you can decorate for the holidays already, all you have to do is find a leafy plant that is full enough to hang lights and ornaments on and then you have yourself a tree.
8:45 And like I mentioned at the very beginning of the episode, some farms, rent trees with the roots. And then you bring the tree home and you have the potted plant and then you bring it back to them and they report the plant or you buy a plant if you don't have one and you use that for your tree in your house. Because you see, when the holidays are over you just replant the tree in your yard or you wait well you probably want to wait till the spring if you live in a cold climate because the ground is going to be hard or you just keep it indoors. If you go with the potted plant option remember to buy a plant that is indigenous to your region and that can survive outside once it's grown.
9:26 When looking for a holiday tree this season, do your part for nature by picking out a real tree versus the crappy fake version. Yes, I said crappy because I do not like artificial trees. These real trees are not only beautiful in your home, but good for nature. Don't forget you can always get a potted tree. If you don't want to cut down a tree or die one yourself, I hope these sustainable tree ideas can help you find your ideal treat for the holidays.
9:51 For more inspiration on how to have a green holiday check out my other seasonal episodes, including episode number 10 where I talk about how to host an eco-friendly holiday party or Episode 12, where I talk about my sustainable and ethical holiday guide.
10:06 You can connect with me on Instagram @greenjunkiepodcast. And please subscribe to the green junkie podcast wherever you listen to my podcast. Also, if you're looking to gain direct access to me, so you can pick my brain, ask questions, get a customized plan and how you can live a little more green, whether you're curious about zero waste, living sustainable fashion, or wondering how to read food cleaning and personal care product labels. I've got you covered. Basically for a whole hour. You can use me as your personal green Google. In the show notes, you'll find a link to learn more on how I can support you on your journey to living more green. Please do something this holiday season to live a little more green. Thank you for tuning in. And I'll see you next Tuesday Green Junkie.
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