Christmas trees bring happiness to many people and towns every year. However, It’s not widely known that many trees are discarded as waste after being used for decoration. While some initiatives aim to return these trees to the forests where they were originally grown, factors such as transportation cost, land and replanting management, and the loss of shape and market value due to repeated handling often result in these trees ultimately being discarded for the sake of human convenience.

An international consulting firm had been decorating their office with Christmas trees made from fir trees imported from the United States every year. However, They became concerned about the CO₂ emissions from transportation and the disposal of the trees after use. They reached out to us to explore ways to make their holiday decorations more environmentally friendly. In response, Green Wise proposed two sustainable Christmas tree ideas to help reduce the number of trees used solely for decoration and then discarded as waste.

We considered the CO₂ emissions during transportation and sourced domestic fir trees grown in the forests of Gunma prefecture. While many fir trees are often cut at the trunk for easier transport and disposal, we prepared trees with their roots intact, carefully dug up from the ground. After being dug up, the roots are often wrapped tightly in fabric, and displayed in a compressed state, but at our company, we perform a process called ‘potting’, where the dug-up roots are gently replanted into pots to create a nurturing environment for the fir trees and carefully manage their growth. During the decoration period, office staff take care of the trees by watering them, and after the decoration period, Green Wise takes over their management at our Tama headquarters, ensuring their continued growth. We have made various efforts to ensure these trees are not discarded and can be reused as Christmas trees in the same location next year.

For ornaments, we use renewable glass and PET material ornaments. Some of the OET material ornaments contain pressed flowers, adding a natural touch of colour to the trees. The indoor ornaments reflect off the glass ornaments, creating a sparkling scene that looks as if the trees are illuminated even without lights. Underneath the ornaments, you can also feel the fresh vitality of the fir trees.

For the planters, we use pots made from recycled branches and bark, leftover from the forest agriculture process, creating Christmas decorations that fully utilise the blessings of the forest.

These are Christmas trees crafted from various aromatic conifer branches. Instead of using the entire tree, we shaped them using pruned branches of conifers, birch, and wild rose hips that are collected during plant maintenance. They adapt to small spaces and require no watering or special care. This new type of Christmas tree allows you to enjoy a gentle shade of green and the gradual colour change as they dry. Natural materials are used for the base and joints, with careful attention paid even to the unseen parts.

After the decoration period, the dried branches were transformed into garlands and given as gifts to the staff. This allowed everyone to take home a piece of the greenery without letting it go to waste. As we bundled the plants, which had taken on antique hues, a gentle green fragrance filled the space. The event, in which the Green Wise staff created and handed out the garlands while taking down the decorations, added a fun touch to the employee’s day at the office.

We received comments from the staff such as, ‘I looked forward to seeing the tree everyday.’, ‘I want to decorate garlands and enjoy them at home with my children.’, ‘I can’t wait to see this tree again next year.’ from the staff. We hope that, through these trees, people can find moments to become more conscious of nature, embrace individuality and change, and be kinder to others and the world around them.