Compare a real tree every year with one artificial tree kept for N seasons.
| Real trees over the period | – |
| Artificial, per year | – |
| Break-even (years) | – |
| Lower total | – |
Use this calculator when you are deciding whether a farmed tree or a boxed one is the lower-carbon habit for how long you actually keep decorations.
Real-tree total is kg per year × years. Artificial per year is the one-off kg divided by years. Break-even years are artificial kg ÷ real kg per year. You can enter both carbon masses in kilograms (kg) or pounds (lb). A composted farm tree is often a few kg CO₂e; a PVC/PE tree is tens of kg up front. Transport and landfill versus compost swing the real-tree number; edit the factors.
Years you keep the artificial tree: How many Christmases you would keep the same artificial tree. 6 is a common guess.
Real tree: Carbon of one farmed tree, used once, in kg or lb CO₂e / year. 3.5 kg is a composted-tree planning figure.
Artificial tree: Manufacture of one artificial tree, paid once, in kg or lb CO₂e. 40 kg is a PVC/PE ballpark.
Real trees over the period: Real path total for those years.
Artificial, per year: One-off manufacture spread over the years.
Break-even (years): How many seasons pay back the boxed tree.
Lower total: Which path has the lower cumulative carbon.
Related calculators