Did you know you can make Christmas trees from scrap wood, cardboard, plastic, metal and fabric? There are so many more choices than chopping down a tree or buying a plastic one. Let’s get creative with ideas from people around the world.
This podcast episode was inspired by a tree-decorating contest in the Philippines – where the trees and decorations had to be made from recycled materials. What a great event idea!
You can listen to my podcast episode about making Christmas trees from recycled materials in this YouTube video. It originally aired in November 2017.
To see pictures of many ideas, visit the Trashmagination Pinterest board of Christmas Trees from Recycled Materials.
Companies that Make Reusable Christmas Trees from Lumber
Most of these companies do not use scrap wood, but if you’d like to build your own, their designs can be an inspiration. Also, most companies only ship within their home countries due to the high costs of shipping a bulky, heavy item.
Tutorials to Make Christmas Trees from Palett Wood
- Little House of Four Pallet Christmas Tree – involves deconstructing paletts and cutting wood
- The Thinking Closet Pallet Christmas Tree – involves deconstructing paletts and cutting wood
- Shanty 2 Chic Pallet Christmas Tree – involves deconstructing paletts and cutting wood
- Affirmaison Pallet Christmas Tree – does NOT involve deconstructing paletts
- Redhead Can Decorate Palett Christmas Tree – does NOT involve deconstructing paletts
- Zolea Wooden Tree – uses scrap wood to build a simple triangle shape
Thomas Dambo’s Cardboard Christmas Tree Tutorial
Learn more about Thomas’ ReMake Christmas Project.
Caroline Beghin-Kircher’s Trees from Driftwood and Fishing Poles
Driftwood tree
Fishing pole tree
Christmas Trees from Recycled Plastic
- Christmas tree from PVC pipe scraps
- Jolanta’s tree from 40,000 green plastic bottles in Lithuania
- Christmas trees from green buttons
My Christmas Tree Ornament from Recycled Green Plastic Caps
Tutorials to Make Trees from Plastic Bottles and Caps
Tree Made from Plastic Milk Jugs
Christmas Trees from Vintage Metal Items
Round metal baking pans or “tart tins”
Two old hand saws
Folding ruler
Rolling pins (not necessarily metal, but you get the idea)
Metal funnels
Metal rakes
Christmas Trees from Recycled Wool
Felted Sweaters by Ellen Baker from The Long Thread
My Mom with her Wool Feather Trees
Wool Feather Trees Tutorial
More Unusual Christmas Trees from Recycled Materials
Lobster Pot Christmas Tree
Mussel Shell Christmas Tree
Christmas Tree from Recycled Windows in Rakvere, Estonia
Companies that Rent Live Christmas Trees
- Living Christmas Trees in Torrance, California
- Rent a Living Christmas Tree in San Fransisco, California
- Original Potted Christmas Tree Company in Oregon
Show Details
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- Script for this podcast episode about Christmas trees made from recycled materials (not a transcript but gives the main ideas)
- The Trashmagination podcast theme music is Kitchen from the Marian Circle Drum Brigade.
