Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
If you find it hard to part with your tree after Christmas and still find yourself holding on to your old evergreen, fret not! A company based out of London may be of service in sustainably handling your holiday tree leftovers.
Every holiday season, millions of people worldwide deck their halls with boughs of holly, wait with bated breath for Santa to slide down the chimney, and adorn their Christmas trees with cherished ornaments.
Since its 16th-century origins, the Christmas tree has been a household holiday staple. However, this timeless tradition wreaks havoc on our planet, with close to 36 million trees being harvested each year. After the holiday cheer comes to a close, many of those trees can end up in landfills. And that’s all for the sake of four weeks of festivities.
With the average Christmas tree taking as many as 15 years to grow to a desirable height, it’s important for people to find more sustainable solutions.
Want to decrease your Christmas carbon footprint without having to buy a fake tree? If you want the real deal, London Christmas Tree Rental has you covered. This eco-conscious company allows you to rent Christmas trees.
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Yep, you read that right the first time! You can actually rent a Christmas tree that comes in its own pot. Come January, simply return the tree back to the same hub you received it from. And if you bonded with your tree, it’s possible to rent the same one the following year! London Christmas Tree Rental even encourages customers to name their trees.
London Christmas Tree Rental was founded by Jonathan Mearns and Catherine Loveless. After making their way through the post-holiday graveyard of discarded Christmas trees on the streets of London, Jonathan knew it was time for a change.
The company allows customers to place orders online and pick up trees from nearby rental hubs or have them delivered. There are five sizes to choose from, ranging in height from three to seven feet. The shortest option costs just £39 (around $50).
Once the rental period comes to an end, you can have the company pick up the tree or you can return it to the hub you got it from. Once the tree grows to be seven feet tall, it is “retired” and gets planted in a local forest.
Despite being in business since 2018, London Christmas Tree Rental experienced a surge in popularity in 2020 thanks to a viral tweet. Dr. Alexandra Lautarescu shared her love for the company on Twitter, dubbing them a “sustainable Xmas gem.”
Not academia related but I’m way too hyped about this sustainable Xmas gem
London Christmas Tree Rental lets you RENT a tree in a pot. In Jan he goes back to live on a farm (can get the same one back next year).When he reaches 7ft he “retires” & gets planted in a forest. pic.twitter.com/Fnmc1LddEr
— Dr Alexandra Lautarescu (@AleLautarescu) December 5, 2020
Since being published, Alexandra’s tweet has accumulated over 60.9 thousand likes and has been shared over 9,000 times!
It’s never too early to start planning for the next holiday season, and with a company that is working to reduce harmful waste, you can’t go wrong with a rentable holiday tree for your next seasonal occasion!
By Steph Weaver, contributor for Ripleys.com
Source: London Tree Rental Company Boosts Holiday Sustainability
