Reusable every year: Wooden trees are the trend
They don't needle and can be put up again every year for the festive season: Wooden Christmas trees. They are increasingly offering an alternative to the classic fir tree, also for reasons of sustainability. Manufacturers in various regions of Germany produce the trees by hand, such as Thilo Tolkmitt in Stahnsdorf, Brandenburg. His slatted trees consist of up to 90 individual parts that have to be assembled at home.
The principle is simple: slats of different sizes made from pine or spruce are placed on a pole. This in turn is attached to a stand. "You can set the trees up flat or turn them upside down," explains Tolkmitt. He has drilled holes in the side of each slat for hanging decorations.
When the needles get in the way in the living room
He came up with the idea when he was bothered by the many needles on a Christmas tree in his own living room. "I looked for ideas on Pinterest and built myself a wooden tree," says the 41-year-old. Gradually, requests also came in from friends. "My daughter then gave me the idea that I could also sell the trees," says Tolkmitt.
Three years ago, he and his cousin Ulrike Thunack finally started the small business "Franky Tree", named after Thunack's cocker spaniel Franky. "The business took off straight away. Year after year, we were able to double the number of trees we sold," reports Thunack.
Although the trees can be seen in the shop window, 99.9 percent of the business is done online. "The orders come from all over Germany, but also from Austria and Switzerland," says Thunack. Both private individuals and companies rely on the trees. "In offices, for example, it's nice when you don't find a dead tree after the Christmas vacations," says Thunack.
A risky business
"We experimented a lot and optimized the work steps," says construction technician Tolkmitt, who gave up his job in the public sector for tree production. But the business is risky and a real thrill. "The sales period is only about six weeks long. It's a niche product that isn't exactly cheap. What's more, timber prices have risen dramatically," says Thunack. The trees cost several hundred euros and therefore significantly more than a classic Christmas tree.
There is also competition. Crosstree trees, for example, come from the Black Forest, the "Dresden Baum" from Saxony and the "Tischler-Tanne" from Saarburg (Saarland). Berlin scenographer Merlin Ortner-Exss calls his model "The Wooden Tree". With its curved branches and twigs and green color, it resembles natural trees somewhat more than the simpler slatted trees.
And the Berlin wooden tree is reminiscent of trees from Lovi, a Finnish manufacturer. These are sold in Ahrensburg in Schleswig-Holstein, for example. "Demand has been increasing for a few years now," says Riikka Wartiainen from Finland, owner of Koti, a store for Nordic design. "It's a bigger purchase, but the trees save space and are easy to care for," adds employee Tanja Rohde.
Thomas Gottschalk celebrates with a folding fir tree
As early as 2006, TV presenter Thomas Gottschalk committed to celebrating Christmas with a folding fir tree: "I am completely happy with an artificial fir tree for environmental and economy reasons and because of the risk of fire," he said in an interview. "The fir tree will last longer than I will," said Gottschalk.
Nabu resource policy expert Indra Enterlein points out that a wooden tree only really replaces a Christmas tree if it is used for years, because: "A few trees have to have grown in order to be able to produce the wooden trees in the first place," she says. She also recommends paying attention to wood from sustainable cultivation when buying - recognizable by a corresponding seal.
Blogger Alexandra Achenbach has written a book on how to celebrate Christmas in the most environmentally friendly way possible ("Zero Waste Christmas", 2019). She is also a fan of wooden alternatives, she says, referring to Christmas trees. However, she prefers models that don't "eat up" any new material. "If you reuse an old slatted frame or an old piece of furniture or collect and craft found wood yourself instead of buying new, you don't just save money. You also get the unbeatable feeling of self-efficacy, a wonderful eco-balance and lots of fun," says Achenbach.
Ulrike Thunack and Thilo Tolkmitt need new material for their trees. However, they are supporting the reforestation project Viva la Wald from Potsdam. "For every Franky Tree sold, Viva la Wald plants a tree in Brandenburg," says Thunack.
To cater to customers seeking sustainability and variety, Tolkmitt and Thunack decided to offer customized options for their wooden trees. They now offer different sizes, shapes, and even the ability to fix decorations directly onto the slats, making them a uniqueenvironmentally-friendly alternative for Christmas.
In the spirit of promoting eco-friendly alternatives, blogger Alexandra Achenbach suggests using reusable materials, such as recycled wooden frames or found wood, for creating Christmas decor instead of purchasing new wooden trees.
Source: www.dpa.com
