5 Ways Our Fake Christmas Tree Is Sustainable & Meaningful

While there is an age old debate on whether a real or fake tree is more sustainable, I want to tell you a few ways we practice eco-consciousness with our Christmas tree.

 
5 ways we make our christmas tree eco-friendly graphic

Pin this guide for later and check out our Sustainable Holiday Pinterest board!

 

It goes beyond the tree itself and into how we decorate it!

Reusing the Same Tree

We purchased a fake Christmas tree about three years ago and every year we put the same one back up. As much as I love the smell of a real Christmas tree it’s not practical for what our holiday season looks like.

 
sustainable christmas tree
 

I think what your holiday season looks like should be something everyone thinks about before deciding on a real versus fake tree.

Travel Ornaments

We rarely purchase new ornaments. However, this is our travel souvenir of choice. It makes decorating the Christmas tree extra fun because we’re reminded of the experiences we’ve shared over the years.

DIY Homemade Decorations

Over the years I have made certain ornaments. This year I was super excited to make my pressed flower ornament!

Over the summer I took cherry blossom flowers from the tree in our backyard and pressed them! Then I took some mod podge and put them on an ornament.

It’s a really meaningful way to honor the tree in our backyard! I’m hoping to press more flowers and improve my craft for next year.

 
pressed flower ornament
 

I’ve also made ornaments with our pet’s paws and other meaningful DIY crafts that add thoughtfulness to our holiday decor.

Thrift Store Lights

Over the years we have been able to purchase some of our Christmas tree lights from the thrift store. This can be a great way to save money and be more sustainable.

I recommend checking off-season for these as they can be trickier to find when the holiday season actually rolls around. We’ve also been able to find mini Christmas trees for as low as $1!

Passed Down Ornaments

One meaningful item we use to decorate our tree is ornaments that have been passed down in my husband’s family.

 
crochet snowflake christmas ornamanet-3.jpg
 

MEET THE AUTHOR

EMILY WADDELL AUTHOR BIO

Emily Waddell is the founder of The Honest Consumer. She has always been passionate about business for good and has a Bachelor degree in Social Entrepreneurship. She currently lives in Seattle where she practices imperfect sustainability. When she’s not writing, Emily enjoys supporting small businesses, clean eating, ethical fashion, & practicing slow living. Learn more about Emily’s journey starting The Honest Consumer.