Candy canes, elaborate lights and Christmas trees are common holiday traditions that have been passed down for years.

According to the Seattle Times, each year about 30 million fresh Christmas trees are sold in the U.S. using about 350,000 acres to grow them. Additionally, about 13 million artificial trees are sold each year.

Although the Christmas tree is a traditional holiday staple in the United States, it is time for a change. Making a shift to using live potted Christmas trees can save money and have a positive impact on the environment.

The tree and what it represents is not the problem. It’s the way we go about it. It does not make sense to use 350,000 acres of land to grow trees that we will cut down use for a month and recycle.

Artificial trees come with their own array of issues such as being fire hazards and difficult to recycle. The process of recycling plastic and metal used to make artificial trees is also hazardous to the environment.  

We have a total of 3 trillion trees on the planet compared to the 5 trillion before mankind, but the real impact is the loss of old growth. Old growth trees filter more than twice the carbon dioxide young trees do and have a larger impact on the environment.

Christmas tree farms produce young trees, cut them down, and replace them with more young trees, perpetuating the global loss of old growth trees and forests. A tree does not become old growth until it is 200 years old.

        Traditions often shift to fit modern times and the tradition of the Christmas tree has been changed before. The use of the Christmas trees in winter months predates Christianity and was first a Pagan-German ritual.

The Evergreen tree was used as a reminder that spring would come again and the tree would ward off evil spirits. Christianity later adopted the tradition and lights and ornaments were added for decoration.

Using live potted trees is a good way to let trees reach maturity while still celebrating the holidays. Potted trees cost less than the pre-cut trees, are less of a fire hazard, don’t need to be recycled and have a positive impact on the environment.

The trees can be planted the after use or it can be kept in a planter pot in the backyard. If planting requires too much maintenance or yard space is not available, there are companies that will provide rental trees and year round care like The Living Christmas Company.

Overall, using a live, uncut tree is the more practical and environmentally friendly option.