Green Christmas Tree Debate: Fake or Real?

The Green Answer is? Cut Down the TREE!!!!

It may be counterintuitive but when it comes to the great real vs. artificial debate, real Christmas trees are proving to be the more sustainable choice. In the US, most Christmas trees are grown on tree farms. The trees are then shipped to nearby cities or towns, or are cut on location by energetic families. These trees are grown specifically for the purpose of decorating a family’s living room and are usually about 10 to 15 years old when cut, depending on the species. It’s estimated that one acre of Christmas trees produces enough oxygen for 18 people daily. In the U.S., according to the National Christmas Tree Association, there are approximately 500,000 acres of Christmas trees supplying nine million people a day with oxygen. Trees are an ideal way to trap any extra carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. Because young Christmas trees are manually pruned each year, encouraging rapid growth, these trees trap more carbon than other types of forests.

If despite all this evidence, you really can’t abide the idea of killing a tree each December, there is an alternative. Buy a live tree, decorate it for the holiday season and then donate it to be planted in a forest or public area. Many local nurseries sell potted Christmas trees.

The first modern artificial Christmas tree was created in the 1930s by a toilet brush company, and artificial trees are today very popular. You don’t have to worry about them drying out, and you are able to put them up earlier in the season. They are also a convenient choice for city dwellers. However, many artificial trees are manufactured in a foreign country, requiring lots of fossil fuels in transportation. The National Christmas Tree Association estimates that 85 percent of artificial trees are from China. These trees are commonly made of PVC or polyethylene. PVC is a plastic and lead is used in its fabrication. It take a 100 years for plastic to break down in a waste disposal site so an artificial tree is more of an environmental hazard than useful year after year.

After the holidays there are several ways to dispose of your 100 percent biodegradable tree. Many municipalities have pick-up or drop-off services; and many of these municipalities then use the trees to generate mulch for city parks. You can dispose of your own tree by sinking it in your backyard pond, where it provides an ideal feeding area for pond creatures, or, after removing all your tinsel and other decorations, you can redecorate the tree with yummy bird treats and set it outside. Placing the tree further back in the woodlot will also allow for good brush coverage.

So if you want to have a GREEN Christmas, go chop down a tree and show your friends and family how to be earth friendly this holiday season.