Tesco’s One-Day “Wonky Tree” Giveaway Brings Sustainability To The Forefront

Supermarket giant Tesco have given away hundreds of real Christmas trees — for free — as part of its festive campaign.

Image: Tesco

Rather than sell only perfectly shaped firs, the retailer offered cut trees that, while healthy, had minor imperfections such as uneven branches or a slight lean. Tesco described them as “perfectly imperfect,” embracing a more realistic vision of Christmas.

The free-tree offer was available at just 10 select Tesco stores across the UK — including sites such as Colney Hatch Extra, Hammersmith, Southport Extra and Glasgow Maryhill Extra. Customers could collect one tree per household, on a first-come, first-served basis from 10am.

Although the trees were free, Tesco invited shoppers to make a voluntary donation to its charity partners FareShare and The Trussell Trust — both of which support food banks and efforts to tackle food poverty in the UK.

The giveaway was part of Tesco’s wider 2025 Christmas campaign, themed That’s what makes it Christmas, which aimed to celebrate the messy, chaotic and unpolished — but authentic — side of festive life.

The initiative reflected a shift from glossy, picture-perfect Christmas images towards a more grounded, realistic festive spirit.

By giving a second chance to firs that might otherwise have been discarded, Tesco’s effort also drew attention to waste reduction and sustainability during the busy festive season — offering a real tree choice to households perhaps feeling the cost-of-living pinch.