How to sustainably buy & decorate your Christmas tree

Living an eco-conscious lifestyle can be particularly challenging during the holidays. Christmas time and festive celebrations often center around consumption and excess indulgence - from food to gifts and seasonal items that get us on in the holiday spirit. Once December rolls around, finding the perfect Christmas tree and decorations becomes a primary focus for those who celebrate. While several aspects of the holidays can easily be made more sustainable, from purchasing local food and gifting experiences to sending virtual Christmas cards and using minimal packaging, finding a sustainable Christmas tree and decorations poses a unique set of challenges.

These seasonal items serve a highly specific and temporary, yet recurring purpose that creates a unique dilemma. On the one hand, natural Christmas trees and holiday decor items possess a lower carbon footprint than artificial options. On the other, artificial trees and decorations are easier to reuse annually but often contain plastic and other non-biodegradable materials.

To help you find the most realistic (and desirable) options for you, read on to discover how to most sustainably buy and decorate your perfect Christmas tree this holiday season.