25 Million Trees Are Trashed After the Holidays—This Smart Alternative Ends Waste

Sustainable and stylish.

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Arguably the most festive holiday decoration is the Christmas tree. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the most wasteful items you’ll have in your home during the holidays. It’s estimated that 25 million Christmas trees are sold each year in the US, and that most of those end up in a landfill come the new year.

Thankfully, there is a smarter solution that’s friendlier to Mother Earth, while still being just as seasonally festive. Choose a living Christmas tree this year as a sustainable, year-round alternative. Living meaning it has the roots still attached, and that it can live outside of your home for many, many years to come.

Plant care company Bloomscape wants to help you make that pine tree a forever plant family member. Their Norfolk Pine, which comes in two sizes, Medium ($65) or X-Large ($195) and launched this week, has softer, more delicate needles and comes potted in 100 percent recycled material terracotta pot. It will last inside way beyond Christmas, too—not to mention, no needle fallout or pick up needed.

Bloomscape wants the pine tree to be seen as a year-round plant, not just a decoration for one month during your holiday celebrations. “The holidays are all about comfortable, happy, and warm times spent with family,” says Bloomscape founder Justin Mast. “This gezellig feeling doesn’t come from disposable decorations or piles of presents, it comes from a home, a space, that’s warm and inviting—and plants are part that.”

The Norfolk Pine gives back to your space, by removing harmful VOCs from your air. It’s also relatively slow-growing, but over the course of several years, this plant can thrive—it can reach heights up to 7 feet tall or more. Keep it in the pot year round, or transfer it to your backyard or garden. Not sure how to do that? Bloomscape provides all the tips and tools to keep it thriving year after year, just ask Plant Mom.

Bloomscape also has a range of festive plants as an alternative to Poinsettias, which are also typically thrown away after the holiday season, including the Red Aglaonema, Dracaena Colorama, and Pink Dalmatian Aglaonema.

A tree that reduces waste, purifies your air year-round, looks great, and is festive? Tis the season, indeed.

Kristin Limoges

Writer/Editor

Kristin can usually be found face, hair, and body masking simultaneously, while thinking-up clever DIYs for her small-space Chinatown apartment. She’s always on the search for the greatest and most life-changing beauty and wellness hacks (hello nootropics and adaptogens) and is happy to report she loves dogs and cats equally.