At Pines and Needles, we believe Christmas should be magical and sustainable. When you choose a real Christmas tree, you’re making a decision that’s better for your family, your home, and the planet.
Why Choose a Real Christmas Tree?
Our trees are more than festive decorations, they’re natural carbon absorbers. Each one spends around seven years growing to 2 metres, absorbing CO₂, storing carbon, and releasing oxygen. Just one acre of Christmas trees produces enough oxygen for 16 people every year.
That’s why we’re proud to say Pines and Needles is carbon positive for most of the year. And at Christmas, any emissions from transport and delivery are offset by trees still growing in our plantations, keeping us carbon neutral during the festive season.
How you dispose of your tree makes a big difference to its overall footprint. The most sustainable option is to recycle your tree through a designated collection (such as ours) or drop-off scheme. This way it can be chipped into mulch for parks and pathways, or even turned into renewable fuel. Disposing of your tree responsibly means you’re giving it a second life, and ensuring it leaves a positive mark on the planet.
Locally Grown, Lower Carbon
We mainly use British-grown Christmas trees from sustainable forests. By keeping things local, we cut down on transport emissions and reduce the environmental impact of your Christmas tree, while supporting UK growers.
Our Sustainability Standards
We follow the strict sustainability guidelines set by the British Christmas Tree Growers Association (BCTGA). While we’re not official members, we’re committed to their best practices, which include:
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Sourcing seeds only from sustainable, non-threatened sources.
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Protecting land with environmental, ecological, and archaeological surveys.
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Using research-led cultivation methods to grow healthy, strong trees.
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Reducing pesticide use to protect ecosystems.
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Supporting wildlife, as plantations provide vital habitats for birds.
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Harvesting trees in winter to minimise disruption to nature and ensure freshness.
What Happens After Christmas?
Your tree’s story doesn’t end when the decorations come down. Real Christmas trees are 100% recyclable and biodegradable. They can be chipped into mulch for parks and pathways, or even used as renewable fuel. And for every tree cut, a new seedling is planted the following spring.
The Truth About Artificial Christmas Trees
Artificial Christmas trees might feel like the “eco” choice, but the facts tell a different story. Real Christmas trees:
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Use 10x less raw material
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Require 5x less energy to produce
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Generate 4x lower CO₂ emissions
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Are fully recyclable and biodegradable
Plastic trees, on the other hand, are made from non-renewable materials, often shipped thousands of miles, and can’t be recycled at the end of their life.
Even Greenpeace co-founder Dr. Patrick Moore has called real Christmas trees the more sustainable choice.
