London’s Christmas trees get new lease of life

Leading this charge are pioneering initiatives focused on either giving trees a prolonged life through rental or transforming them into entirely new, valuable resources. These efforts reflect a growing public awareness and demand for greener choices, pushing the city towards a more circular economy even in its holiday traditions.

One such option, rapidly gaining popularity, is the concept of renting a living Christmas tree instead of buying a cut one. London Christmas Tree Rental embodies this ethos, providing potted trees that are returned after the festive season to be nurtured and grown on for reuse in subsequent years. Jonathan Mearns, the visionary founder of the company, encapsulates their straightforward approach with a simple mantra: "Just simply, rent, water, return." This model not only saves trees from an untimely demise in landfill but also allows them to continue sequestering carbon, contributing to cleaner air in the long term.

The logistics are designed for convenience and sustainability. Customers can browse and rent their chosen tree via the company’s website, selecting specific dates for collection and return. They then visit one of four strategically located hubs across London, including a popular spot in Dulwich, south-east London, to pick up their living festive centrepiece. After enjoying their tree throughout Christmas, they bring it back to the hub, from where it is transported to a dedicated farm to continue its growth cycle. This meticulous process ensures that each tree receives the care it needs to thrive year after year.

A heartwarming aspect of this rental service is the potential for customers to be reunited with the very same tree they rented previously. Mearns recounts stories of delighted customers. "Sometimes people come back and say, ‘is that really my tree?’" he shares, a smile evident in his voice. "We get pictures and we’ll compare, and they’ll say actually it is, it’s just grown a little bit, so people love it." This personal connection transforms the Christmas tree from a mere seasonal decoration into a cherished, growing member of the family’s holiday tradition. One satisfied customer, reflecting on their four years with the service, told BBC London, "I just like the idea, it’s more environmentally friendly." This sentiment underscores the powerful appeal of sustainable practices when they are made accessible and personal.

While London Christmas Tree Rental champions the art of re-use, a separate and equally ingenious scheme in Peckham, also in south-east London, is focused on repurposing trees once their festive duty is truly complete. The ORNA Group is at the forefront of a movement to transform discarded Christmas trees into innovative construction materials, breathing new life into what was once considered waste.

The genesis of ORNA Group is a tale of entrepreneurial spirit meeting environmental conscience. Hugo Knox, one of the co-founders, vividly recalls the moment his journey began. "Back in November 2019, I left my first job coming out of university," he explains. "I rang up one of my close friends, Max. I said, look, ‘it’s Christmas, Christmas trees, shall we give it a go?’" The pair initially ventured door-to-door in Camberwell, offering fresh trees and installation services, quickly expanding their venture into a thriving seasonal business. It was this hands-on experience that exposed Knox to the sheer scale of post-Christmas waste. "But from that I learned a lot about Christmas tree waste and saw all of the waste first-hand in the streets of London, and that’s what led to ORNA Group," he says, highlighting the direct inspiration behind their pioneering work.

The environmental impact of discarded trees is indeed significant, a fact corroborated by the Carbon Trust. Their research indicates that, on average, a real Christmas tree produces approximately 3.5kg of carbon dioxide emissions during its lifecycle. However, a two-metre tree that is simply sent to landfill without its roots can have a significantly higher carbon footprint, soaring to an estimated 16kg. This stark contrast underscores the urgency of finding sustainable disposal methods. While the Carbon Trust also notes that an artificial tree, used over several years, can eventually create lower emission levels overall, the focus for real trees is clearly on diversion from landfill.

Recognising this urgent need, most London boroughs have established schemes for Christmas tree recycling, aiming to drastically reduce the volume of waste sent to landfill. These municipal efforts typically involve designated collection days or drop-off points where residents can leave their real trees to be chipped and composted, often for use in local parks or gardens. Comprehensive information on specific council schemes can be readily found on the London Recycles website, serving as a vital resource for environmentally conscious citizens.

At the heart of the ORNA workshop, a fascinating transformation unfolds. Real trees, collected from homes and businesses across the capital, arrive ready to be processed. Material scientist Caelo Dineen Vanstone, another of ORNA’s insightful co-founders, elaborates on the intricate process. "When it arrives here, it’s mostly unprocessed," she explains. "The trees have come straight out of houses or businesses in different forms, but it comes here chipped up into the right consistency." This initial chipping is crucial, breaking down the bulky trees into manageable fragments.

The subsequent stages involve a sophisticated blend of chemistry and engineering. Dineen Vanstone describes how the process entails "cooking and modifying natural ingredients" before carefully combining them with the prepared tree waste. The goal is "to create a homogenous wet material," a kind of bio-composite paste that forms the basis for their innovative construction products. This unique blend is then pressed and cured into durable, versatile boards or panels, which hold immense potential for various applications in the building industry, from insulation and decorative finishes to bespoke furniture components. This circular approach not only diverts waste but also offers a sustainable alternative to conventional, resource-intensive building materials.

Beyond the scientific innovation, ORNA Group is deeply committed to community engagement and education. The project actively involves young people, demonstrating firsthand how seemingly small actions can culminate in significant positive change. "We’re not trying to change the world quite yet," Dineen Vanstone humbly states, reflecting the grounded ambition of the initiative. "But it’s just about trying to make our street corner a little bit nicer and trying to do something positive rather than doing something that’s going to impact our future generations in a negative way." This focus on local impact and fostering a sense of responsibility among younger generations is a powerful testament to their broader vision.

These pioneering efforts by London Christmas Tree Rental and ORNA Group, alongside the vital recycling services provided by local councils, represent a multifaceted approach to tackling Christmas waste. They underscore a collective shift in London’s environmental consciousness, moving beyond mere disposal to embrace principles of re-use, repurposing, and the circular economy. From renting a living tree that returns to the farm to transforming discarded pines into innovative construction materials, London is demonstrating that the festive season need not culminate in environmental burden. Instead, it can become a testament to ingenuity, sustainability, and a renewed commitment to giving back to the planet. The capital’s Christmas trees are indeed getting a new lease of life, symbolizing a hopeful future for urban sustainability.