Best Non-Toxic Christmas Tree Options
Written by Irina Webb
Is it possible to find a safe Christmas tree in today’s market? One may think that a live tree is definitely safer than an artificial tree. Yet, it is not that simple – not all artificial trees are that bad, and neither are all real trees good. There is a lot to consider, and it may cause an overwhelming feeling of uncertainty. A wrong decision can cost you wasted money and unnecessary exposure to potentially harmful chemicals. However, I believe that knowledge helps us make informed decisions and allows us to avoid the pointless hassle.
In this post, you will learn about the main types of Christmas trees and my environmentally friendly experience with a real tree. This information will help you in your search of a non-toxic Christmas tree to find the one that will work for you.
Best Non-Toxic Christmas Tree Options
Instead of touting a specific safe Christmas tree option, let me do something better for you. As a full-time consumer product ingredient safety advisor, I realize that knowing your options is very helpful. Spoiler alert: no option is 100% ideal and safe for everybody, and this is especially true for Christmas trees. It is all about knowing your choices and their pros and cons. In short, some products may be safer as compared to others, but none of them is “safe” in absolute terms.
By the way, I have been studying the consumer market and product ingredients since 2012. When I realized that the information I was discovering was too valuable to keep it just to myself, I established the I Read Labels For You website. Today, I spend hours investigating the markets and the ingredients, so you don’t have to do that. I am here to read labels for you and give you all the necessary information to make informed consumer decisions.
And now, as I promised, I am sharing with you my environmentally friendly experience with a real tree.
Is Live Tree A Good Non-Toxic Christmas Tree Option?
To begin with, some potential issues with a real tree prevent it from being called a totally safe Christmas tree, namely:
- chemicals
- mold
- allergies.
First, real Christmas trees may have pesticides and herbicides on them. A solution can be trees from an organic Christmas tree farm or trees with chemicals sprayed around them, not directly on them.
Second, molds found in real Christmas trees can set off reactions like severe asthma attacks, fatigue, headaches, and sinus congestion (source).
Third, tree sap, pollen, or terpenes can trigger allergies that can develop within 24 hours or even several days after setting up and decorating the tree. For instance, this study reports that seasonal syndrome includes sneezing, wheezing, and transitory skin rashes. In fact, my colleague shared that within a few days of getting a real tree, she broke out in a full-body rash that required medication. On top of that, her cat developed asthma and had to get medical attention, too. Indeed, this study reports that household cats share environmental exposures to aeroallergens with humans. They can spontaneously develop airway inflammation similar to human allergic asthma. Once she got rid of the tree, the symptoms went away.
Thus, even an organic tree from a Christmas tree farm may not be a fully non-toxic Christmas tree option.
My Experience With Renting A Living Christmas Tree
Once, looking for a safe Christmas tree for my family, I came across The Living Christmas Tree company. The idea of renting and returning a real tree seemed to me both clever and environmentally friendly, even though you cannot really pick your own tree. You just rely on what they bring you. Hence, there is always a dash of surprise and anticipation involved. So, we did that for three years in a row.
The first year was good (see pictures above). The workers showed up on time and hauled the tree up the stairs into our home. They placed it in a watertight container on the drip pan my husband had set up earlier. Despite a flat spot in the tree, we liked the fact that it would not end up as firewood or in a landfill in a month.
The second year was a bit different. At first, the tree looked fine, but then it got dry and lost many needles. Putting ice cubes in it every other day per the instructions did not appear helpful.
The third time was even worse – the tree lost what seemed like most of its needles. This time, too, we emptied an ice tray every other day into the bucket in which the tree sat. Later we learned that true pines need cold winters to thrive. It simply could not make it in our warm home. In sum, our living Christmas tree experience turned out to be pricey, not very successful, and not that “environmentally friendly.”
Is An Artificial Tree Made Of PVC A Good Christmas Tree Option?
When a real tree is out of the question, we turn to artificial fir trees. Can an artificial tree be a good option for a safe Christmas tree?
To start, conventional artificial trees are normally made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). This type of plastic is made of vinyl chloride that is associated with an increased risk of cancer (source). Also, PVC may contain lead (linked to neurotoxicity and cancer) and phthalates (linked to hormone disruption and cancer) (source). Plus, the production stage of PVC requires a large amount of energy, which results in high carbon emissions (source).
In the United States, the state of California requires that trees with PVC carry a warning label regarding lead. Additionally, there is a possibility that an artificial fir Christmas tree may contain flame retardant chemicals. In humans, halogenated fire-retardant chemicals are linked to:
- infertility,
- thyroid disruption,
- oxidative DNA stress,
- reduced IQ (similar to lead poisoning),
- adverse effects on the immune system,
- and, possibly, cancer (source).
Importantly, there is an indication that antimony, found in flame retardants, might cause cancer in occupational settings (source). Consider reading this Proposition 65 Fact Sheet about how to reduce your exposure to antimony trioxide. Some measures are as simple as mopping, dusting, and handwashing. Also, you can learn more about flame retardants in my free blogpost TB 117-2013: What Does It Mean for You?.
So, neither a real tree, even from an organic Christmas tree farm, nor a PVC tree seems to be a good option for a non-toxic Christmas tree. What other options do we have?
Are Polyethylene And Polypropylene Christmas Tree Options Safer?
As you can tell, it is best to look for a PVC-free Christmas tree. And instead of relying on the manufacturer’s claims, I suggest contacting the company and asking them directly. Surprisingly, the information in the “product description” section may not always coincide with what the manufacturer will tell you. In my experience, this is particularly true about product descriptions on Amazon. Therefore, it is always a good idea to confirm.
So, is a PVC-free tree a safe Christmas tree? As I mentioned before, the concept of safety is relative and has a lot to do with comparison.
Thus, artificial Christmas trees that are PVC-free are normally made of polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE). As compared to PVC, these are safer plastic types. However, there is no guarantee that PP and PE trees will be free of lead and flame retardants. It is a good idea to contact the manufacturer and ask them for this information.
Actually, it is quite easy to differentiate between polyethylene (PE) foliage and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) foliage. Most websites selling Christmas trees describe the PVC trees as “traditional” or “classic,” and the PE ones as “realistic” or “most realistic.” Compare the pictures below.
11 Researched Christmas Tree Options
First, my team and I have researched 11 major Christmas tree companies currently on the market. We reached out to each one to inquire about the types of plastic they use and whether their products contain flame retardants. For your convenience, I’ve compiled the results of these conversations below.
As you will see from the information below, only Balsam Hill’s “most realistic” trees feature nearly 100% polyethylene. The rest of the trees seem to have mixed PE and PVC.
Additionally, please pay attention to the companies’ description of their flame retardants. While some companies gave us the names of the chemicals they use, others stated they didn’t use any flame retardants because the materials they used for their trees are “inherently” flame retardant. My guess is that they mean that the PVC or PE in their trees already contain flame retardants; hence, they didn’t have to use additional chemicals on their trees. Yet, I cannot be absolutely sure.
Ultimately, please remember that the world we live in is not perfect. Thus, in an ideal world, your best non-toxic artificial Christmas tree would be made from PE and have no flame retardants. However, in our imperfect world, I was unable to find one that matches that description. So, I would suggest that you do your best, avoid stress, and most importantly – enjoy your holidays!
With this said, please see the available options of Christmas trees in the IRLFY Amazon shop. I encourage you to confirm the materials with the manufacturer.
Balsam Hill
In personal correspondence, Balsam Hill told me the following: “Our trees can range from all-PVC (“Traditional” trees) to 100% PE/True Needle (“Most Realistic” trees). A 100% PE tree does still have PVC wrapping on the inner trunk and/or the very top of the tree, which is removable and for aesthetics only. As such, it is technically composed of 99.999999% PE, but we round it up to 100%.” They use antimony trioxide as a flame retardant (read about the precautions here).
IKEA’s Christmas Trees
It looks like they sell in local IKEA stores as well as online. The leaf on IKEA Vinterfint Tree is described as made of “polyethylene plastic (min. 70% recycled), PET plastic (min. 50% recycled), steel, polypropylene.”
Some of our readers who purchased a 2024 Vinterfint Christmas tree noted that it looked different from the earlier trees. They also expressed an apprehension that it may have PVC. So I contacted IKEA to ask about PVC, and the company assured me multiple times that they do not use PVC in their Christmas trees.
As for flame retardants, the company said the following: “We are committed to avoiding the use of chemical flame retardants in our products. Instead, we employ techniques and materials that inherently possess flame retardant characteristics. To know more about flame retardants, please click here.”
Treetime Most Realistic Christmas Trees
They describe their “most realistic” Christmas trees as made of PE 65%+ mixed with PVC foliage. Remember, it is always a good idea to call and confirm. To my question about the names of their flame retardants, they responded as follows: “We don’t know the actual chemicals used on our trees. But I can tell you that our trees passed the European Standards flame retardant testing.” I requested that they pass my question along to someone who might know the names of the chemicals. And they replied: “Sorry, we don’t have details on that information other than they are included in our products.”
Treetopia Realistic Christmas Trees
Their website says they are permanently closed, but you can still find their trees on Amazon, and through other trusted retailers. Their website used to say that realistic trees are made with “lifelike needles molded from PE to make them appear just like the real thing.” Most of their trees I looked at on Amazon feature PVC as the foliage material. I have no information about their flame retardants.
National Tree Company
This is what they told me in personal correspondence: “All of our trees contain some PVC. We do not have any 100% Polyethylene trees. Our Ultra Realistic trees contain the highest content of PE. Our 7.5 ft. Norway Fir Tree has the highest PE Percentage -71%. The PE is inherently flame retardant, and the PVC is sprayed with a flame-resistant chemical called ammonium octamolybdate.”
Puleo International
They seem to have mixed trees (PE and PVC). I emailed them on November 6 and then again on November 11, 2024, asking which of their Christmas trees have 65%+ PE, and which flame retardants they use. No response yet.
Yitahome Artificial Fir Christmas Trees
They seem to carry mixed trees (PE and PVC). I emailed them on Nov 6, 2024, asking which of their Christmas trees have 65%+ PE, and which flame retardants they use. They responded that they use NH4H2PO4 (which is, according to the Internet, ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (ADP) or monoammonium phosphate (MAP)).
Fraser Hill Farm
This is what they responded to me: “We unfortunately do not produce any trees with 65%+ polyethylene, for which we apologize. Our trees are typically made of PVC, with the Canyon pine and the Foxtail pine having a mix of PVC and PE. Please view this comparison chart for more information regarding the needle type, size, and lighting options. Our trees are constructed with flame-retardant materials such as PVC, which is inherently resistant to flame; this is the reasoning behind the trees being made of mostly PVC.”
King Of Christmas
They seem to offer mixed trees (PE and PVC). I emailed them asking which of their Christmas trees have 65%+ PE, and which flame retardants they use. I got the following reply: “At King of Christmas, our Premium category trees feature a higher percentage of PE tips, which enhances their realism and overall aesthetic appeal. These trees often have a fuller and more natural look, making them a popular choice for those seeking a lifelike Christmas tree experience. All King of Christmas trees are treated with a high-quality, standardized flame retardant. Unfortunately, we do not have access to that information [regarding its name], so we will not be able to tell you the exact name. Rest assured that it’s high-quality and protects the trees properly.”
Earthflora Christmas Trees
They seem to have mixed trees (PE and PVC). Regarding flame retardants, their website says: “We infuse the necessary fire-retardant additives directly into the fabric and polyethylene branch components prior to printing and injection molding. Our fire-retardant system will not dissipate, wash off, drip off, or leave a messy, oily film. It meets all the National Fire Prevention Association 701 Tests for non-flammability plus the ASTM E84-95, Standard Test Methods for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials. All fire-retardant foliage will have an “R” in the prefix of the SKU number such as AR, GR-, PR, WR, GPR and be indicated by a fire-retardant symbol. All PVC material (marked with “C” in the prefix of the SKU number) is inherently fire retardant. Necessary documentation is available upon request.”
I emailed them asking which of their Christmas trees have 65%+ PE, and which flame retardants they use. They responded that most trees are 60% PE / 40% PVC. They didn’t give me the names of their flame retardants, though.
Nearly Natural Christmas Trees
These look like mixed trees (PE and PVC). I emailed them on November 6, 2024, asking which of their Christmas trees have 65%+ PE, and which flame retardants they use. I got the following reply: “All of our trees are made with PE, PVC, and other plastics and none of our products are fire retardant.”
How To Reduce Your Exposure To Toxic Chemicals In Christmas Trees
As it happens, there are no clear-cut answers as far as a non-toxic Christmas tree is concerned. The closest we have come to having an environmentally friendly and safe Christmas tree is by decorating a pine tree in our yard. Of course, the downside of decorating the tree outside is that we cannot enjoy its beauty while we are inside, which is most of the time in winter. On the plus side, there are no potential allergens in the house, and the tree is there year after year.
Regardless of the tree you decide to go with – real or artificial – here are some ways to reduce your exposure to allergens and potentially harmful chemicals:
- Do not let kids touch the tree.
- Do not handle the tree if you are pregnant.
- Wear gloves when setting up and decorating the tree.
- Wash your hands after handling and decorating the tree.
- After setting up and decorating the tree, clean the area thoroughly with a damp mop or a HEPA filter vacuum.
I would like to emphasize the importance of cleaning the house and washing your hands. In fact, this article describes a study that reported a significant decrease in the levels of flame retardants in the urine of women after increased cleaning and handwashing.
In addition, an air purifier can work for both real and artificial trees and help improve your air quality. To choose the right one, please read my free Comprehensive Guide to Mobile Air Purifiers. You can also read their descriptions in my non-toxic products shop. If you still find it overwhelming, consider booking a personal consultation with me.
Conclusion: What Is A Safer Christmas Tree Option?
In An Ideal World, Your Best Non-Toxic Artificial Christmas Tree Option Would Be Made From Polyethylene And Have No Flame-Retardant Chemicals.
However, we do not live in a perfect world. Therefore, I suggest that you do your best, avoid stress, and most importantly – enjoy your holidays!
To sum up, there is no 100% “safe” Christmas tree in absolute terms. Indeed, real trees may contain allergens and even trigger asthma in both humans and pets. And artificial fir trees may contain potentially harmful chemicals, including flame retardants. Yet, PVC-free artificial trees, usually made of polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP), or trees with a lower percentage of PVC, or PVC trees with no added flame retardants seem to be safer options. Check out some options in the IRLFY Amazon shop.
Rightfully so, Christmas calls for decorating the tree and seems dull without it, to say the least. We need a tree to create the holiday season ambiance and, plainly, have fun. Therefore, the goal of this post was not to spook you. On the contrary! The goal was to educate you. Now that you have all the information you need, you can find what works best for you. Even if your choice is not deal, it is okay – life is not perfect.
Besides, those potentially toxic chemicals that may be in your house do not have to end up in your body. There are things you can do to prevent that from happening (e.g., wash your hands after handling and decorating the tree and use an air purifier).
The I Read Labels For You blog offers tons of free educational material, unique services, unprecedented e-books, and a non-toxic product shop. If you have any experience to share, please tell us in the comments – we would love to hear from you!
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Can you suggest a PVC-free artificial tree with no flame retardant? I’m struggling to find one that meets both requirements!
Hi Anna,
We did our best to find one and have come to a conclusion that it’s not easy; so, a trade-off is the most likely decision.
Yet, among the researched Christmas tree companies, IKEA assured us that their trees are both PVC-free and flame retardant-free.
However, we encourage you to contact them and confirm this information personally.
Hi! An update on the Ikea one – previous year it was all hard plastic and resembled the PE version. We moved and needed to get a new tree so reordered it… this years tree is different. The tips are the hard PE plastic, but I suspect the rest behind it is PVC because they are the traditional soft and thin tips. Definitely felt like the quality went down this year. Sad because we really loved the tree last year that was all hard plastic.
This is an excellent summary. Thanks for doing my research for me – I couldn’t have been as thorough.
Hello,
I just received this response from Balsam Hill re flame retardants:
“Our artificial trees do not contain antimony trioxide. Our trees are manufactured with safety in mind, and we prioritize the use of non-toxic materials. We take great care to meet all safety standards to ensure our products are safe for use in your home.” So maybe they used to use antimony and do not now? Did they share with you they use it?
Hi there,
Thank you for your feedback!
After reading your message, I went to the BH website and engaged in a chat with a live rep (not bot). I asked the question: “What is the name of the flame retardant chemical used on your trees?” The answer I got was: “Antimony Trioxide, an inorganic compound, is what is used to make our products flame retardant.”
Does this help?
We got a beautiful tree from Balsam Hill last year that we had to return because it made me so sick. When I called, one of the chemicals they told me was used on the tree was antimony trioxide. In several states, it’s actually illegal to use on furniture because it’s so toxic but apparently there aren’t any rules about Christmas trees.
Thank you for this article! i have been looking all over for this information. Very helpful!
Hi!
I own a Balsam Hills PVC/PE “realistic” tree and our tree is emitting a strong “plastic” odor that has dissipated all over our first floor. The tree is a few years old, but we did not expect this amount of off gassing from it. We suspect is the PE that is that is the cause, but could be a mixture of PE/PVC. Unfortunately it has triggered my migraines and poor air quality in our home despite we airing our house. We have also placed the tree near a window, and placed a fan on it, and an air purifier nearby, but unfortunately it has not been much help. Balsam Hill just told us to “keep airing it for 48 hours”, but its been a week so far.
So, thank you for writing this blog post as people need to understand how dangerous decomposing plastics can be even on something like a Christmas Tree. And even more disappointing on a more expensive, BH tree, that we hoped to get at least 10 years out of.
Hi Elle,
Thank you for your feedback and sharing your experience! We appreciate it a lot!
I contacted the Tree company, and here is the reply.
Update for Case 15802 – “Ingredients in your trees”
All of our trees have flame retardants as per US govt regulations. None of our trees are 100% PVC free although the Enchanted White Spruce is 97% PE.
Here is the response I got from Treetime when asking about lead in lights, antimony and % of PE. I wouldn’t recommend them based on this.
Alex said “I would say that if you have a lot of concerns over this you should avoid all trees and plastic products. Our trees do have flame retardant, too.”
Recently I came across a post by a very reputable, organic skin care company that they are making essential oils from recycled Christmas trees. This sounded like a pretty terrible idea considering the chemicals used on the majority of Christmas trees. I also have followed Tamara Rubin’s lead activism for years, so immediately i thought about all the lead in most people’s Christmas tree lights and ornaments that could make its way into the oil distillation process as well. Sadly, when I posted a question about these concerns, they deleted my comment. That was quite a telling moment that makes me reconsider purchasing future products from them. I wish there was a consumer testing lab where you could send product and get them analyzed without it costing a fortune. Do you know if such a thing exists?
Hi, Sam! Thank you for the question! In our experience, all the 3rd party labs are costly. If you would like to use our research services, check out the options available to you: https://ireadlabelsforyou.com/services/
Where does one find a PP or PE tree besides IKEA, which are never in stock?
Hello, Elle! Have you tried the other brands listed in the table in the post? Balsam Hill, Treetopia, and Treetime? The other day I thought I saw a PE tree in Hobby Lobby. There may be something in At Home store chain, too.
I got a Balsam Hill Christmas tree a few years ago. I have been very happy with the purchase.
For me, the smell of a live tree can trigger a migraine. I am interested in safe lights. I think Rohl lights were rated well. Still gathering information on Rohl lights.
Thank you for your feedback, Sandy!! Happy holidays!
Hello Sandy, where did you get your ROHL lights please? All I can find is bathroom fixtures under that name. Thank you.
Hi Irina, I have found this information recently. I just bought an ikea tree that has : Polyethylene, Steel, Polypropylene. It is still in the box. I’m concerned about opening it and keeping it though since I found this article on Polyethylene. What are your thoughts? (The article is on the Naturalpedia.)
“Polyethylene, one of the most widely produced plastic in the world, is a thermoplastic polymer that has a variable crystalline structure. It is commonly used in cosmetics and personal care products, food packaging materials, and medical devices.
Polyethylene may cause slight skin irritation, asthma, and even cancer.
Polyethylene, if inhaled, may cause proximal scleroderma, Raynaud phenomenon, joint involvement, pulmonary manifestation, and esophageal involvement in some people.
Polyethylene may be toxic to the integumentary system, respiratory system, immune system, skeletal system, and muscular system.”
Hello, Julie! Thank you for reading our post! In a word, there is no safe Christmas tree in absolute terms – even real trees may trigger allergies in some people and pets. As for artificial trees, some materials are “better” than others, e.g., polyethylene would be “better” than polyvinyl chloride (PVC). One of the ways for you to have peace of mind and enjoy Christmas with a tree is to run an air purifier in the area where the tree is set. Check out our post about air purifiers: https://ireadlabelsforyou.com/mobile-air-purifiers-guide/ If you feel like having a personal consultation regarding Christmas trees, air purifiers or any other healthy-living subject, Irina will be happy to help you: https://ireadlabelsforyou.com/services/consulting/
Do you know if Christmas lights made with polyethylene are lead-free? Target sells a lot of Phillips lights that I noticed don’t have PVC, but I can’t figure out if that means they are lead-free or at the very least low-lead (under 100ppm).
Hi, Allie: Polyethelene lights are certainly safer than PVC but that does not mean that they are lead-free or lead-safe. ~Irina
Thank you. Where would lead be contained in lights made of polyethylene? I know with PVC lead is a component contained within it, so lead can be on the surface with those lights. Curious about Polyethylene lights though.
Hi, Allie: Polyethylene does not have the same heavy metal concerns as PVC. However, heavy metals can be in the paint, too. ~Irina
I know this is an old post but thought it was important to share that I just called balsam hill (nov 2020) and they said all of their trees now contain antimony trioxide. So sad!
It is sad! I’ll make the correction. THank you, Erin! ~Irina
I know, total bummer!! I’m trying to find out now if west elm’s cashmere tree is free of flame retardants, but am getting mixed answers from their customer service. Will keep you posted as it may be interesting for your readers.
Love your site!!
Wanted to share… I ended up ordering the cashmere tree from West Elm (they assured me no pvc or flame retardants) but it came and clearly has pvc and glitter so it’s going back!
I found one from home depot that says 100% Pe but says it’s flame resistant… but their customer service says it doesn’t have flame retardants and no prop 65 warning … fingers crossed it’s actually all pe.. may order and let you know what I t
Thank you for sharing, Erin. That looks like a good find. Congratulations! ~Irina
Which tree did you order from Home Depot?
what a shame! Antimony trioxide is a cheap and effective fire retardant, I guess that’s why it’s used most in the artificial Christmas tree industry. It took me two years and a lot of resources to find and test a good fire retardant that was halogen and antimony free. Downside is, its way more expensive, but I never set off on this journey to make any compromises with the peoples health.
Thanks to Irinas insights I believe more and more people are realizing new ways how they can have a healthy home environment.
Best wishes and merry Christmas 🎄
Hayley Burke
Founder Conscious Christmas Tree
Thank you for the information. Sadly, the more I learn about our options for choosing a Christmas tree, the more I realize that I am dealing with an “inconvenient truth”: This wonderful custom that I have enjoyed since childhood may have some very bad unintended consequences.
Those should be “RoHS compliant” products, European standards. I bought mine years ago at “Environmental Lights”, but they discontinued.
HI. I’m loving this discussion and it’s exactly the reason why i’ve been creating the Conscious Christmas tree for the last almost 4 years. For me, the biggest point after PVC (which is super scary) and the fact that they contain an array of inappropriate chemical additives, is the fact that all current artificial Christmas trees are NOT recyclable. Even if you keep them for 20 years + they will still end up in landfill or in an incinerator. If you think that between 15 and 18 million are sold every year in the USA alone that’s a lot of waste!
The Conscious Christmas tree will be fully recyclable and won’t contain any PVC or harsh chemicals like halogenated Fire retardants. We believe we’ve found an antimony free, halogen free and organohalogen free fire retardant and are shortly beginning trials! The tree is modular so if a piece breaks you can easily repair the tree. My hope is that this tree will never need to be thrown away! (my website is off line at the moment – it’s getting a long over due revamp!)
The trees will be made firstly in the UK and I won’t be shipping to the USA yet, unfortunately. However, during the next years we hope to bring proudction to the US to serve the US market. We understand that people are becoming more consicous about products they buy and we have to support that.
I love your blog and often see your posts on IG. Thank you for all that you do in raising awareness and supporting people on their journey to a healthy non-toxic lifestyle. Best wishes, Hayley
That sounds great, Hayley. Thank you for doing that. Please stay in touch! ~Irina
That sounds amazing yes please keep in touch!! I look forward to their US arrival! I wish/ hope more companies in the US would get down with non- toxic living!
Any recs for a PVC free and less free artificial tree?
Thank you for asking this question, Sandy. I understand IKEA carries some PVC-free trees but you have to confirm that with them. ~Irina
I can’t find any PVC fee artificial Christmas trees. Recommendations?
Same! Would like a recommendation please!! Anyone? I can’t find a PVC and one that doesn’t have flame retardant. Thanks!
Ikea’s trees are made of polyethylene and polypropylene. I have read they also are free of flame retardants, but have not received confirmation of that from Ikea. They are very sparse trees, though. I would really love one that is fuller looking.
I buy a cut tree and then hose it off really well in the back yard before bringing it inside (after letting it dry for a few hours). Do you think that will remove the pesticides and herbicides? I haven’t found a single bug in my house since I started hosing off my trees before bringing them in! I also buy my trees from stores that don’t store them on parking lots with nasty oil and transmission fluid stains.
It sounds like the right thing to do. I think it removes some pesticides and herbicides off it. Probably not all of them though. Thank you for sharing, Dusan. ~Irina
Another few options would be to buy a living pine tree from a nursery and then if you have no place to plant it after Christmas (you live in an apt or have a smaller yard) you can donate it to a group that plants trees in your area (if you have one). Like here in Fresno we have a group called Tree Fresno who go around planting trees in public parks, school yards, & along streets. Or perhaps a friend with a larger yard would like it? Or another option is to get a living Norfolk Island pine which is a tropical plant (not technically a true pine) that can be grown indoors year round. Starting with a small one is very inexpensive & each year your tree will be a little bit bigger giving you more to decorate. Also, part of the reason your rented trees may have struggled is because true pines need the cold winters & so don’t do well in our warm homes for long. True pines should only be kept indoors for a week (or maybe two) tops.
Hi, Kayleigh! It is so nice to hear from you. I hope you are making a good progress with your health. Thank you so much for these helpful suggestions. I did a search and found this Norfork Island pine, which looks quite attractive. Thank you! ~Irina
Do you know If there been any breakthroughs with an “eco friendly tree” since you wrote this article? For the past few years we have had a wooden driftwood tree but it is very small and my 3 little boys would love a “proper” Christmas tree this year.. I just can’t stand the thought of bringing all those chemicals into the house.
I am also interested in updated info on Christmas trees! Had a severe reaction a couple years ago to an artificial tree made with PVC
Thank you for this great information! 🙂
You are very welcome. It is nice to hear from you, Rocio! ~Irina
Isn’t it rather good for the carbon footprint to cut down a living tree? Especially since they will only get planted for the Christmas industry…lots of young trees grow (which are able to absorb more carbon than old trees) get cut down for Christmas and then end in compost. For years I thought I’m doing at least no damage environmentally by buying an organic tree and put in in compost after?
I have a live Christmas tree. It is on the small side, but has pretty needles. I put it up on a stool and drape the bottom so it still looks quite festive and above eye level.
This is my 4th. Each one gets used 3 Christmases and then planted so the price is about similar to buying a cut one. I keep it inside for just 1 week though, then it goes back outside, preferably in part shade because of how dry and hot it gets in the summer in San Rafael. One died before I could plant it but a bird had made a nest in it, so it was cool that it got to be used in that way. This one is on its third year and has lost its top, so we will have to be creative. It requires some loving care all year and that’s kind of nice too. I have to find someone to plant it at higher altitude, not in the Bay Area. My other trees were planted by a friend in San Leandro.
Thank you, Myrto, for sharing this. It is so nice of you to take care of the trees. You inspire. ~Irina
We have had a real living christmas tree the last couple of years.. It didn’t cost us much to buy and gets planted every year after christmas in our garden and dug out again the next christmas. It is not big but i feel better about having a living tree in the house, I can reuse it every year and it is cheap. May be worth considering over hiring a tree in a pot?
lovely idea! do you know if they spray the trees with any insecticides. I LOVE this idea it it was available here. Merry Christmas
They assured me that they do not spray with any insecticides and the trees are organic. The downside is you may get a few extra bugs in your house, which I personally do not mind. 🙂
Great post! I have always wanted to have a living Christmas tree to bring it inside for the holidays, then place it back outside. I would probably have to put it in a decorated pot and it would probably have to be smaller in size as my husband and I would be the ones bringing it inside.
For the past couple of years, we have been shopping at a local nursery (1 mile away) to our live Christmas tree. Yes, it does cost more than at a Lowe’s or Home Depot, but they trees always look better, smell better and last longer.
Our neighborhood picks up the trees and mulches them. I would throw it in our compost pile, but evergreen trees take a lot longer to decompose.
Maybe next year, I will start a tradition with a smaller living tree.
What about lead in the Christmas lights?
Luckily, there are options for lead-free Christmas lights. Lead is in chandeliers too. That would be a good topic for another post.