When I can, I get a real tree. After Christmas, I trim all the leaves and branches off the trunk and put those in the municipal compost bin. I then put the trunk in storage and let it dry out for a year or two. Once dry, I’ll carve them into things like walking sticks, wizard staffs, etc.

Now live in the 1850s US and try to buy a pair of underwear whose production didn’t involve slavery at some point in the chain.

The problem is the same as it’s ever been - supply chains are complicated.