The survey found that three in five Australians (or 60 per cent) had a Christmas tree in 2022. Of those, 69 per cent had a plastic tree, 22 per cent had a fake non-plastic tree and 9 per cent had a real pine tree.

But while plastic trees are currently the popular choice among Aussies, our attitude towards them could be changing.

Robert D’Arrigo works at family-run Merlino’s Christmas Trees in Wareemba, and he says “There’s definitely an up-trend” in the interest in real Christmas trees.

“We’re seeing the younger generation coming through and leaning into nostalgia, trying to re-experience what their parents did over Christmas.”

Justin Davies from Davies Family Farms in Shepparton, which began growing Christmas trees six years ago, has noticed a similar trend.

“We’re only in our second season of selling, but we’re already seeing sales grow each year. Last year, we sold about 200 to 300 trees, and we expect it to increase again this year.”

Global market research EMR reported that last year, the Australian Christmas tree market reached over $108 million, and it’s expected to exceed $154 million by 2032.

When it comes to what could be contributing to Aussies growing interest in pine over plastic, Malene Hand, No Plastic in Nature policy manager at WWF Australia, believes the environment is a significant factor.

“A real Christmas tree is always a better environmental choice. Plastic trees are made from fossil fuels and then transported across the world [predominantly from China, Taiwan and South Korea],” Hand says.

A two-metre artificial tree has a carbon footprint of about 40 kilograms of carbon dioxide based on the production of the materials alone.

In comparison, a two-metre tall, 10- to 15-year-old real tree has a carbon footprint of about 3.5 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent.

Justin Davies from Davies Family Farms in Shepparton believes that “once people pick out their tree for the first time, they get a taste for it,”

“It becomes a fun family tradition.”

Image: Getty Images