How sustainable are Christmas trees in Switzerland?

How sustainable are Christmas trees? Keystone-SDA

Eco-fir trees are a clear niche in Germany, one of the main suppliers of Christmas trees in Switzerland. Artificial trees are not necessarily sustainable either.

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According to the German environmental authority, Christmas trees are usually grown in plantations. This has a negative impact on the environment due to the use of artificial fertilisers and pesticides. “Compared to other consumer goods, however, the environmental impact of Christmas trees can be categorised as low,” it explains.

Consumers can also look out for ecologically certified trees, which are grown without pesticides and mineral fertilisers. However, according to a survey by the organisation Robin Wood, such Christmas trees only have a market share of less than 1%.

The transport of the trees to the living room also has consequences for the environment, especially across national borders. The environmental authority therefore recommends buying Christmas trees at least in the region.

Those who opt for an artificial tree should also use it for as long as possible, the authority further advises. The decisive factor with regard to the environmental balance is how many natural Christmas trees it replaces in the course of its “life”.

Swiss trees cannot meet demand

As Switzerland cannot meet the demand for trees from its own production, a considerable proportion is imported from abroad. In addition to Germany, Denmark is also an important supplier.

Most wholesalers offer both domestic and imported Christmas trees. Landi, Coop and Migros also source a large proportion of their trees directly from the region. Aldi, on the other hand, relies solely on Nordmann firs from the EU.

Coop only sells Swiss firs directly. At its DIY subsidiary Jumbo, the Swiss share is currently 85% and is to be increased to 100% in the medium term, the group told the news agency AWP. At Migros, too, the proportion of Swiss production is 90%. Swiss trees are used wherever possible, it said.

Translated from German by DeepL/ts

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