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Deck the Halls
Green your holiday decorations with the Cardboard Christmas Tree
12/1/2009 - Ecoscene Staff
As a Jewish girl growing up, I was so jealous of my friends who celebrated Christmas. Decorating the tree, listening to Christmas music, and seeing what Santa left under the tree on Christmas morning seemed like so much fun. This year, I finally get to experience a Christmas tree with my six roommates. We voted against a real tree, despite the fact that I love how the pine needles make the whole house smell like a forest, as they are expensive and messy, frequently shedding needles all over the place. Artificial trees are considered by some to more environmentally friendly, but they still carry a carbon footprint. So, when we got the chance to try the Cardboard Christmas Tree, an environmentally friendly alternative for the annual tradition, we were like kids on Christmas morning.
   
Santa Claus is Comin' to Town (+)- Made from 100% recycled corrugated cardboard, the tree is available in two sizes (1ft and 3ft), we tried the 1ft version.
- To save paper, instructions for assembly were on the company’s website.
- The tree is easily assembled; just combine the two pre cut sides of the tree with the base and top it off with the star. It also comes with a gift card.
- The tree has circular, star and candy cane shaped cardboard ornaments that fold out of the tree.
- The tree and ornaments arrive as standard brown cardboard canvases; they instantly become a craft project and you can decorate it any way you please, just like a real tree.
- Using eco friendly paint in green and shimmery silver, I gave the tree its own one-of-a-kind design.
- Easily disassembled for storage and reuse next year.
- The tree can be recycled, but keep in mind what you decorate it with may not be.
- It comes in its own unique cardboard packaging that also serves as a shipping container.
- For each tree purchased the company contributes to the Arbor Day Foundation's Trees for America, a reforestation program.
- Made in the USA.
Bah, Humbug (-)- The tree stand does not hold it well, but the tree works just fine standing up without it.
- Not functional for putting presents underneath as it sits low to the ground.
- Recycled cardboard is flammable, so lights should not be used to decorate these trees.
The Bottom Line
The Cardboard Christmas Tree is a great item for the holidays if you are looking for a planet friendly option without the mess of pine needles. It spreads the Christmas spirit as well as the green spirit and does not break the bank. Even after purchasing paint and decorations, the total cost came in at $26, well under the price of an artificial or live tree. The trees are available on the Cardboard Christmas Tree website for $19.95 (3ft) and $9.95 (1ft).
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