5 Good Reasons to Opt for a Natural Christmas Tree

The scent of a natural fir tree spreading in the house is assuredly the most representative of the Holiday season and one of the most appreciated by all.

Christmas is just around the corner! Unless you're the Grinch, you've probably started decorating your home for the Holidays. If you don't have your Christmas tree yet, you may be wondering: is it better to buy a natural tree or an artificial one? Here are 5 good reasons to opt for the first option.

1. Beneficial and biodegradable

A fir tree grown in a nursery takes about 10 years to reach a height of 5 or 6 feet. During that time, it cleans the air by transforming CO₂ into oxygen and also serves as a habitat for wildlife. Once the Holiday season is finished, a natural tree can be composted or turned into mulch, and eventually reused in the garden.

2. Lower carbon footprint

A natural tree generates 3 kg of greenhouse gases in its entire lifetime, while an artificial tree generates 8 kg every year. On average, an artificial tree is used for a period of 6 years. What's more, most artificial Christmas trees, manufactured in Asia for the vast majority, cannot be recycled and end up in landfill sites.

3. Transplantable

A new trend appeared a few years ago: potted Christmas trees. Obviously, this allows you to tranplant your tree in the garden come spring. If space is limited, you can choose to give it to a friend or a neighbour, or to simply transplant it somewhere else. Under normal conditions, it will live for several decades.

4. Good for the local economy

About 1.5 million Christmas trees are cut each year in Quebec. Of course, this allows for the creation of many jobs. Of that number, 2/3 are exported to the United States. A significant source of income for the local economy!

5. Natural scent

Finally, the scent of a natural fir tree spreading in the house is assuredly the most representative of the Holiday season and one of the most appreciated by all (followed closely by the smell of a turkey cooking!). This definitely adds to the ambiance and it's sure to bring up many childhood memories.

Happy Holidays!