Cast needles or PVC

A PVC branch is film cut into strips and twisted onto wire. It is light, cheap and passable in photos, but up close it reads as tinsel: the strip is flat with a straight edge, and the wire shows through.

A cast branch is pressure-moulded in a mould taken from real needles. It has thickness, a vein and a rounded tip, so up close and to the touch it behaves like a real needle, not a strip of tape.

What it changes in practice

• Cast needles do not shed — none on the floor in December, or when the tree is packed away
• A cast branch holds its shape once fluffed, so the crown does not sag before the holidays are over
• A flat PVC strip creases at the bend and by the second season will no longer straighten

What these branches are made of

The trees we sell are cast from 100% virgin SABIC polyethylene (the Netherlands). Virgin means not recycled: recycled material gives patchy colour and turns brittle over time.

Many models are combined: cast needles on the outside, where they are seen and touched, and film inside the crown, where it adds volume. This is not cost-cutting but a way to get a dense crown without excess weight.

Side-by-side comparison

How to recognise a cast branch

• Look at the tip: a cast needle ends in a rounded point, a film one in a straight cut
• Look at the branch side-on: a cast one has volume, while a PVC strip almost disappears edge-on
• Run your fingers along the branch: a cast one springs back into shape, film crumples
• In photos, look for a close-up of a branch rather than the whole tree: in a wide shot the difference is harder to see

Why the two are combined

In a mixed tree, the cast needles sit at the ends of the branches where they are seen, and the PVC sits closer to the trunk. From outside you see and touch cast needles, while the film inside fills the space so the crown does not look see-through. The result is a full tree without extra weight: a 2.1 m tree weighs 18–21 kg depending on the model.

An all-PVC tree looks good from a distance. A fully cast one is heavier and more expensive. A mixed tree is a sensible balance for a home where the tree is seen up close.

Why a cast-needle tree is heavier

A cast needle is three-dimensional rather than flat, so it contains more material than a film strip. Bear that in mind when planning who will carry the box in. In return, the branch holds its shape and takes about 1 kg of decorations.

Caring for cast needles

• Brush dust off with a soft dry brush or blow it away with cool air
• Do not place the tree right next to a heater or fireplace
• After the holidays, pack the tree into its box without squashing, so the branches do not crease
• Store the box somewhere dry and out of direct sunlight

What else to check besides the needles

• Colour: in virgin polyethylene it is even, without blotches or greyish patches
• Density near the trunk: the crown should not look see-through when viewed from the side
• Construction: a tiered tree unfolds in about a minute, without tools
• The warranty and return terms — worth knowing before you order

Which to choose

If the tree will stand in a living room where it is seen up close, photographed and touched, choose cast or mixed with cast needles on the outside. Film makes sense where the tree is only seen from a distance. For a tree you will put up year after year, cast needles earn their keep by not shedding and by holding their shape.

Can you see the difference in photos?

In a wide shot, hardly at all: both trees look green and full. The difference shows in a close-up of a branch and in the evening, when the light from the fairy lights falls on the needles: cast needles give shadow and depth, film glints in flat strips.

Which is better for a small tree?

On a 0.6–1.2 m tree that sits on a table or chest of drawers, cast needles stand out most: such a tree is always seen up close, at arm’s length. This is exactly where the difference between a cast branch and a film strip is most visible.

Where the trees come from and how to get one

The trees are made in Ukraine, in a workshop in Uman. We ship by Nova Poshta free of charge within 1–3 working days; you can pay by card or cash on delivery.

Does a cast-needle tree shed?

No. Cast needles do not shed — neither over the holidays nor when the tree is folded and put away until next year.

What warranty does the tree have?

The warranty is 5 years. If the tree is not right for you, it can be returned within 14 days; the terms are on the “Exchanges and returns” page.