Beiträge

Current Trend in Christmas Trees

According to the Federal Statistical Office, 29.5 million Christmas trees were sold in Germany in 2016. With 71 percent, the Nordmann fir is one of the most popular tree species. But artificial trees are also increasingly found in living rooms at Christmas. According to a recent Statista survey, 22 percent of around 1,100 interviewees this year use a plastic Christmas tree – and this is often made of PVC.

One reason for the increasing interest in PVC Christmas trees is certainly the fact that the manufacturers of these trees have been paying more attention to details during production over the years, which in turn contribute to the fact that plastic trees are getting closer and closer to the original.

In 2012, the American Christmas Tree Association in the United States has compared the advantages and disadvantages of real and artificial Christmas trees in a scientific life cycle analysis. Both types of Christmas trees have environmental impacts that depend on the duration of use, transport distance to the consumer and the type of waste disposal. The study concludes that when a PVC tree is used for eight years, it is more environmentally friendly than buying eight real Christmas trees. They are more durable, easier to assemble, do not need water and do not lose needles. The branches are also resistant to fading and have flame-retardant properties.