Real v. Fake: The Xmas Tree Debate
[image error]Now that the turkey’s been stuffed, stockings are just around the corner. So when it comes to those boxed holiday ornaments you’re about to drag up from the basement or attic, is it better to festoon them to a real tree, or a fake one?
It’s commonly believed that buying an artificial tree saves money, since you’re saving time, energy, and certainly the CASH involved in acquiring new each year. However, the pros and cons of each are are important to consider, and I think that when it comes to the potential costs to your health, the economy, and the environment, you may be surprised at which one appeals:
Real Trees: The Pros & Cons
It turns out that consuming an entire tree for your own short-lived, personal festivity is not as detrimental to the environment as you would think. For every tree chopped down, one to three are planted each year which means at least 98 percent are sustainably farm-raised on acres and acres of (albeit man-made) forestland — which helps produce oxygen for the planet, and habitat for wildlife. That’s 25-30 million fresh cut trees sold each year, which are usually fairly local to where they’re being purchased (nearly all 50 states have a sustainable tree farm crop). As well, the industry helps employ over 100,000 seasonal workers.
Best of all, you can recycle real trees: local companies can turn your tree into garden mulch, either for a nominal fee, or, many cities do this for for free, like Denver and New York. Check your local boyscout program which often offer free tree recycling as a yearly fundraiser. Just be timely about dumping your decor: many recycling programs only run a few weeks in January. Or, DIY it to provide your home with 13 pounds of firewood to pack a stove, backyard fire-pit or fireplace all season long. The needles can be used for mulch or to protect your landscaping from winter weather.
On the other hand, environmentalists complain that the pesticides used in growing farm-raised trees dont exactly make them “all natural” — in fact each comes with nearly a quarter of an ounce of pesticides and, if neglected, will dry out and turn into fire hazard (properly-watered trees present a very low fire risk). They also cost around $25-$200 each, each year. But, if you prize tradition and the environment, fresh is the way to go.
Artificial Trees: The Pros & Cons
In terms of appearance, artificial trees have come along way and with this option, you can buy once and you’re done — or, for at least 7-10 years, as that’s how long they are expected to last. For $100-$1,000 (on the higher end, you’ll get hyper-realistic-arbors with pre-strung lights, etc) these conical beauties are always the perfect shape, they don’t drop messy needles around your house and you can even leave the decorations on and just drape plastic around the thing in your attic to store dust-free until next year. Now if that’s keeping your holiday chores easy, I don’t know what is!
However, over 85% of the artificial trees in the U.S. come from China — that’s a long haul in terms of the fuel it takes to ship here (much further than your local Xmas tree farm). Most are made from PVC, a petroleum-based, non-biodegradable plastic. Worse, PVC has been shown to release dioxins — known toxins to humans and animals stored in your fatty tissues and linked to certain kinds of cancer. In some older artificial trees, lead is also a concern.
Furthermore, fake trees can also be fire hazard. In 2004 the Farmington Hills fire department did a test to see which survived a house fire better, a real or fake Christmas tree, and found that artificial trees, even fire resistant ones, took longer than dry trees to light but when they did, gave off acrid black, toxic smoke, much worse for you than a fire from a natural tree. These days artificial trees are almost all flame retardant — but it’s important to understand that in the case of a house fire, you’re not necessarily better off with plastic decor.
Finally, due to the glue and metal they use, fake trees cannot be recycled. All told, in 2009 the environmental firm Ellipsos of Montreal found that “an artificial tree would have to be reused for more than 20 years to be greener than buying a fresh-cut tree annually.” The bottom line? If convenience and no-mess holidays are a priority for you, artificial can speak to your needs.
Are there alternatives?
There’s a few cities, such as San Francisco and Portland where you can actually rent a Christmas tree for less than $100 — they’ll bring you a potted evergreen to decorate and then they’ll come and take the tree back to replant it somewhere like a park or a watershed, wherever needs greening. You can also buy a small tree you plan to plant yourself, or go for something smaller like a wreath or a new houseplant, as I have in past years. Bucking tradition can have it’s rewards: saving money, lessening your environmental impact, and even protecting your health and safety.
Photo Courtesy of: Pixabay/15425
