At CarbonSync™, we always aim to grow the greenest tree. How green is your Christmas tree?
The measure of a tree
A locally farmed 7 ft Christmas tree weighs on average 30 lbs. Approximately half of that weight is water. So that gives us 15 lbs of wood. That 15 lbs of wood consists of just over 7 lbs of carbon that the tree has removed from the atmosphere over its lifetime. As the tree grows, it absorbs more CO2 to build its woody mass.
What happens to the tree after Christmas makes the difference. If the tree is chipped and burned or composted, the CO2 that the tree has absorbed is emitted back into the atmosphere.
At CarbonSync™, we recycle the Christmas tree wood into BioChar. This is charcoal (pure carbon) which is added to soil. This method keeps the carbon out of the atmosphere for hundreds to thousands of years longer than any other process that deals with Christmas tree waste.
CarbonSync™ wood products are developed with the knowledge that 49% of the dried weight of wood is carbon removed from the atmosphere. Our products are produced using minimal carbon footprint production methods. We give customers the total carbon content in each piece of wood. This method creates a product that is good for the environment.
Tree of life
So what about live trees? Live trees need to be relatively small to insure that the root ball is large enough to sustain the tree. An average 4 ft live potted tree weighs 100 lbs. Having a live tree is a satisfying option, but it can be challenging to keep the tree alive. These trees need to be kept cool, and can only stay inside your home for a short period of time — less than 2 weeks.
Our first year showed a 5% mortality for pot-grown Douglas Fir. Our second year showed 95% mortality for 6 ft Douglas Fir. This is far too high for regular production, but it led us to discover BioChar. Now we only sell smaller live potted trees.
Our products are designed to last – a true CarbonSync™.
Counting the carbon until Christmas
On another note, the carbon accounting of Christmas trees is twofold. There is the carbon in the tree itself, which it takes to grow the tree, as well as the carbon footprint of the delivery and pick up. At CarbonSync™, we track this using the ClimateSmart Business program. In 2009, we calculated that it took an average of 7 kg of CO2 to deliver and pick up each tree. Each year we work on consolidating our delivery and pick up routes, no idling policies, and a general philosophy that efficiency is better. After the Christmas season we analyze how we can lower our carbon footprint per tree.
That is how we grow the greenest trees. We hope to provide an ever-improving service. We welcome your comments and questions. And remember, REAL trees smell great, and in our opinion are the best way to celebrate the holiday season!
Learn more about us.
Get your carbon-neutral Christmas tree
To buy your CarbonSync™ Christmas tree and offsets, please visit our online shop:
Have a green Christmas!