Today, society is increasingly talking about ecology, sustainability and responsible consumption. This topic cannot be avoided in the period of preparation for Christmas, especially when live trees are coming back into fashion and are increasingly replacing artificial ones. Such a trend is considered contradictory - some people are happy with the real smell of Christmas, while others are sorry for the trees that are cut down. Christmas tree growers in Lithuania have found an ecological solution - they rent Christmas trees, after the holidays they return to the nursery to grow, and orders are delivered by bicycle.
The National Christmas Tree Association estimates that 5 million more real Christmas trees were purchased in the United States alone last year than in 2017. Experts have a simple explanation for this growth: the so-called millennial generation has come of age, and as they start their own families, they want to create their own holiday traditions.
Along with the return of the fashion for real Christmas trees, the questions return, is it worth cutting down trees for one holiday and what to do with the trees after the holidays are over? The e-store "Holitrees", which has the largest assortment of Christmas trees in Lithuania, has offered a solution, the demand for which has grown rapidly. They are the only ones in Lithuania that offer Christmas trees not only for purchase, but also for rent.
"When we first offered this service last year, we believed that it would help answer the question for those who don't know what to do with their Christmas tree after the holidays. This year, with the season just approaching, the number of trees rented has increased by 100 percent compared to last year. People liked the idea that we collect the trees after the holidays, continue to take care of them, and plant them again in the spring," says Lukas Litvinas, co-owner of Holitrees.
The tree rental growers pay great attention to ecology and environmental protection. The plastic pots and bags they offer are reusable and do not need to be thrown away after the holidays. In addition, this year they are introducing a new, environmentally friendly method of tree delivery that has never been seen before in Lithuania.
"We will be the first to deliver Christmas trees this year by a completely ecological means - by bicycle. We have specially prepared for this, designed and manufactured a bicycle trailer specifically for this purpose. In general, this year we are paying a lot of attention to ensuring that Christmas trees are transported from one place to another as little as possible before reaching customers' homes. And even when we deliver goods by car, we do not drive during peak hours when the streets are congested," says L. Litvinas.
It is estimated that one hectare planted with Christmas trees produces as much oxygen as almost half a dozen people need every day. The more trees in the world, the healthier we breathe, which is why Lukas, who grows Christmas trees for the holidays, has set a goal this year - to plant two new ones for every Christmas tree sold or rented.
