Due to its role as a best seller, there are many different designs of green Christmas tree: real or artificial; pre-lit and/or pre-decorated; frosted or flocked; small or large – the list goes on. Which green Christmas tree you decide on will depend on many factors, but the first one has to be do you want a real tree or artificial? Once you have made this decision, choosing your green Christmas tree should become easier.

Today, ‘green’ is so much more than a simple colour; the term also refers to the need to be environmentally- friendly in order to protect the planet, and we all have a responsibility to ensure our Christmas tree is as ‘green’ as possible. A real Christmas tree is much more eco-friendly than an artificial one, in many respects. Be sure to buy your real Christmas tree from a sustainable source –details are on the British Christmas Tree Growers Association website – or, even better, buy a tree with roots so that it may be replanted after Xmas.

When it comes to disposing of your green Christmas tree, do so in an environmentally friendly way: many Christmas tree farms and other retailers (and local councils) offer a Christmas tree recycling service, whereby they turn used trees into reusable wood chippings or mulch.

Artificial Christmas trees are also good for the environment in another way. For instance, they last much longer than a real Christmas tree, meaning less waste in the landfill. When you have finished with your tree, why not recycle it (and thus keeping it out of landfill longer) by seeing if anyone else could make use of it?

If you are truly committed to preserving the environment, why not treat yourself to a truly green Christmas tree over the festive season? The Woodland Trust sells ‘eco trees’ that are made of recycled card that can be used year after year and, if you are not too bothered about having a tree on display in your home, you could dedicate a tree instead.

It is a shocking fact that only 10% of Christmas trees were recycled last Christmas, so this year be environmentally-friendly and make sure that your green Christmas tree is kind to the environment as well as its colour.