Balsam Hill leads in design and quality of artificial Christmas trees and holiday decorations. Inspired by nature, we invented True Needle® technology, we set the industry standard for quality, and we have the best warranty for artificial trees. Everything we make is reusable and crafted to last for many years. We continue to innovate by moving toward recycled plastic, plant-based plastic, solar-powered factories, recycled steel, and recycling options for artificial trees.
Tree Talk: What Does Sustainability Mean for Christmas Trees?
If you’re looking for more sustainable Christmas trees or eco-friendly Christmas trees, you might be asking: What does sustainability mean for artificial Christmas trees? For us, it means making trees that are reusable, while using more sustainable materials each year.
If you’re looking to learn about or buy a recycled Christmas tree, you’re in the right place—in 2023, Balsam Hill launched a collection of trees made of post-consumer recycled or renewable plastic. In 2024, we launched the reNEW Collection of trees, with designs featuring True Needle® tips made from GRS-certified, 30% recycled or plant-based plastic.
If you’re looking to learn how to recycle Christmas trees or who is recycling Christmas trees, we are working hard to find technologies, partners and systems to do the same. Post-holiday recycling programs exist for real trees; at Balsam Hill, we aspire to provide the same end-of-life options for artificial trees. In 2023, we launched an invitation for customers to participate in artificial Christmas tree recycling at our San Francisco Bay Area outlet. In future years, we plan to pilot tree collection in places beyond our retail locations – with efforts focused on customer drop-off or curbside pick-up.
Going forward, we’re doing our best to make trees that are new and more sustainable, by moving beyond reusability toward post-consumer recycled content, plant-based renewable resources, and end-of-life recycling options.
Words and Questions That Matter to People and the Planet
Sustainability can be confusing. The right or best choice is not always obvious. Over the last few years, we have been working closely with partners ready and willing to explore and invest in sustainability for artificial trees. These questions help us think about new ways to make Christmas and Christmas trees more sustainable and better for the planet:
- Can artificial trees be part of the circular economy? Can we discover or invent recycling technologies and infrastructure to make new trees from old trees?
- What carbon footprint is required to make a tree and how can we achieve carbon equivalence between real and artificial trees?
- What raw materials, manufacturing processes, light technologies or end-of-life options have less environmental impact on the planet?
- How can we eliminate the use of single-use plastic in our packaging so that it is recycle-ready and is less likely to go to landfill or escape as pollution?
- How can we maximize the level of post-consumer or post-industrial recycled content in our manufacturing without sacrificing quality?
- How can we increase the reusability of our trees and significantly reduce our carbon footprint and increase the value of investing in an artificial tree?
- What level of refurbishment of old trees is better for the planet than making new trees? How can we plan for remanufacturing and achieve our high-quality standards?
- If something technically can be recycled, will it be recycled, and how can we design trees that are ready to be recycled and easy to recycle?
Reusability Is Balsam Hill’s First Step Toward Zero Waste
The Environmental Protection Agency and the Ellen Macarthur Foundation both focus on sharing, reusability, refurbishment, and recycling as aspects of the circular economy. Balsam Hill’s Christmas trees are crafted with heirloom quality, allowing you to reuse them for 5 years, 10 years, or a generation of happy holidays. Through this lens, artificial trees can be considered a sustainable choice. They are reusable, but they can also go further toward sustainability and the circular economy.
Tree Talk: How To Extend the Life of Your Artificial Tree
- Store Properly – After the holiday season, disassemble your tree carefully and store it in a cool, dry place. Use a sturdy storage bag or box to protect it from dust, moisture, and pests.
- Clean Regularly – Dust and clean the branches before storage and periodically during use to prevent buildup that can degrade the tree’s appearance over time.
- Handle with Care – Gently shape and arrange the branches when setting up and taking down your tree to avoid bending or breaking the limbs or twisting light strings.
Sustainable Materials: Introducing the reNEW Collection
In 2024, we proudly introduced the reNEW Collection, featuring our favorite trees. Designed and manufactured with the same True Needle® technology and heirloom quality, the reNEW Collection is made with new and more sustainable materials.
Recycled Christmas Trees with TrueNeedle® Tips Made From 30% Recycled Plastic
Looking for a reusable artificial Christmas tree? Our most popular trees (Vermont White Spruce reNEW and Silverado Slim reNEW) now come with True Needle® tips made with 30% post-consumer recycled plastic, made by recycling the tear-away polyethylene caps on 5-gallon home or office water bottles.
Planet-Friendly Plastic Trees: The reNEW Collection by Balsam Hill
The reNEW Collection also includes trees made with plant-based plastic. In 2023, we introduced our first artificial tree (BH Balsam Fir reNEW) with True Needle® tips made from polyethylene derived from sugarcane, an annually renewable resource. In 2024, we introduced the Aspen Silver reNEW with the same material for every True Needle ® tip.
Sustainable Systems: Christmas Tree Recycling
Most people looking for information on recycling Christmas trees or Christmas tree recycling probably don’t have an artificial tree…not yet. Real tree recycling may already exist in your city. Balsam Hill is working toward building the same infrastructure options for artificial trees. We’ve encountered challenges that made us rethink design and manufacturing, and we dream of a bright future for artificial Christmas tree recycling.
In 2023, we piloted recycling partnerships with global leadership and state-of-the-art technology. We are working hard to figure out how to collect, bale, and shred artificial trees, sell the metal, and use the plastic to make new trees. In 2024, we made our first tree from old trees! The journey is challenging, fun, overwhelming, frustrating, and important. We’re committed to giving people the option to recycle artificial Christmas trees—ours and everyone’s.
What is Sustainability at Balsam Hill?
We started with a focus on reusability. Now, we are focused on sustainable materials and sustainable systems. We have made some big steps forward and we’re not done yet. We are listening to the experts and we are sharing what we have learned so far…to inspire others.
At Balsam Hill, we want to help people celebrate Christmas by sharing meals, opening presents, telling stories, or making connections near a well-loved and well-decorated tree. Many memories are made, many packages are shipped. Many gifts are given, many returned. People shop online, people shop locally. Meals are cooked and served, leftovers are saved or wasted.
For every joyful holiday, we want to give people options that make the planet better. We started our sustainability journey by measuring our carbon footprint and increasing dependency on renewable resources, looking at ways to reuse what already exists, and reducing the risk of pollution. We want to be leaders in sustainability for artificial trees, for ourselves, for our customers, and for the planet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Balsam Hill is dedicated to sharing joy every holiday season, including new ways to reduce waste. Our trees are reusable, and our customers appreciate this as a key attribute of sustainability. Here are answers to other common questions on this topic.
Are Artificial Christmas Trees Sustainable or Eco-Friendly?
Balsam Hill’s trees are designed and built with heirloom quality, so they are reusable for many years. With new and more sustainable materials including recycled and plant-based content, the reNEW Collection by Balsam Hill is a more sustainable alternative.
Are Artificial Christmas Trees Made of Sustainable Materials?
With this year’s introduction of the reNEW Collection by Balsam Hill, we are shifting to new and more sustainable materials. You can now buy trees with True Needle® tips made with 30% recycled plastic or plant-based plastic, derived from sugarcane.
Are Artificial Christmas Trees Recyclable or Recycle-Ready?
For artificial Christmas trees, recycling is not yet available, but Balsam Hill is working on it. Balsam Hill has partnered with global leaders in recycling to design and build the technology and infrastructure that is necessary to recycle artificial trees.
Are Artificial or Real Trees Better for the Planet?
If you measure what is friendly to the environment or the planet by its carbon footprint, and you only plan to use your tree for one year, then a real tree is the better choice. If you plan to use your tree for 5, 10, or 20 years, then an artificial tree that will last for many years is the better choice. In 2018, the American Christmas Tree Association published a comparative life cycle assessment of traditional needle artificial trees that marked the break-even point for carbon at 5 years.
We wish you a festive holiday season. To join us on our journey to a greener Christmas, click the button below and shop our reNEW Collection of new and more sustainable Christmas tree options.
Learn More About Artificial Christmas Trees
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