<http://livinggreenmag.com/2013/12/09/home-garden/the-great-annual-christmas-tree-debate-real-vs-artificial-aka-fake/>
The Great Annual Christmas Tree Debate: Real vs. Artificial (aka Fake)
December 9, 2013
By Richard Kujawski, Managing Editor
Decorating for the holidays often involves a Christmas tree. Each
year, Americans buy about 30 million real trees and about 13 million
fake ones. However, since artificial trees are usually reused, the
number of artificial trees actually strung up each year is about 50
million.
But which choice is greener-cutting down a living tree that
sequesters carbon, or buying a plastic one from China that could last
6 or more years but still end up in a landfill? The right
environmental choice may not be clear-cut.
Brief History of the Artificial Tree
The first artificial tree, according to some source, is the wooden
tree-shaped pyramid with candles built by a church in Bethlehem,
Pennsylvania in 1747. But much more attention was paid to the
feather trees first built in the 1880s in Germany, where
deforestation encouraged an alternative to the traditional
tannenbaum. Feather trees were made of green-dyed goose feathers
attached to wire branches around a thin wooden post that served as
the tree trunk. Candles and ornaments were also hung.
Then in 1930 the Addis Brush Company created an artificial Christmas
tree made from the same animal-hair bristles used for their toilet
brushes, but dyed green. The bristle trees were less flammable and
sturdier than feather trees.
Aluminum trees showed up around 1958 and were sold for about 20
years. Ironically, they were most popular in 1965, when A Charlie
Brown Christmas aired for the first time. The negative treatment of
the tree and poor Charlie Brown changed the public's mind about their
cool factor.
Today, most artificial trees are made of petroleum-based PVC, with
carcinogens produced during production. Fake trees may also contain
lead that can be spread indoors. If pre-decorated, they can't be
recycled at the end of their lifecycle.
What the Trade Groups That Represent Christmas Trees Have to Say
Both trees have plusses and minuses in the eco-footprint department.
And who better to talk about each tree's strength (and point out the
shortcomings of the other) than their respective trade associations.
The National Christmas Tree Association (www.realchristmastrees.org)
represents the farms and growers of real tree. The website doesn't
say much about artificial trees except that "Real Christmas Trees are
not just fragrant and beautiful, they are also better for the
environment than fake trees, inexpensive, safe, easy to care for, and
an excellent choice for your family's traditional Christmas
celebration."
The White House Christmas Tree is real, as the site points out, and
the nonprofit supports Trees for Troops, which will provides18,000
free, farm-grown Christmas Trees to armed forces members and their
families in the U.S. and overseas. The selecting, caring for, and
recycling of a real tree is explained on the site.
The American Christmas Tree Association
(www.christmastreeassociation.org) represents the interests of the
artificial trees in this country-which have about an 85 percent
chance of having been made in China. Their site has lots of "scare"
content about real trees catching fire, and making sure bugs aren't
in that real tree you were just about to buy. What is not mentioned
is the fact that nearly all fake trees are made from harmful plastics
that are non-recyclable.
(To find an artificial tree made in the USA, do an internet search
for "Artificial Christmas trees made in USA."
Pros and Cons
So which tree is naughty and which is nice? Many experts point out
that the carbon footprint and overall environmental impact is minimal
compared to what's caused by our daily driving. So you could do
penance for a few days by biking or carpooling and then enjoy the
rest of the holiday season.
Perhaps the real choice to make is: Which will bring more enjoyment
and happiness. For some, the guilt of cutting down a tree drives
them toward fake needles, which can also be more convenient. For
others, the thought of replacing natural with artificial is not their
idea of a joyous noel.
However, for those ruled by their head and not their heart, here are
some factoids gathered from various sources, including the New York
Times, EarthTalk, and Earth911.
* Real trees are primarily grown on farms to minimize deforestation.
These farms are often marginal for crops but work for trees, and
preserve green spaces. However, pesticides and chemicals are used to
some amount.
* Real trees generate oxygen and absorb carbon from the air while
alive. Artificial trees create factory pollution.
* Real trees are often recycled into mulch. They also leave a mess
of needles, and require regular watering-especially if you want to
minimize needle loss.
* Artificial trees cost more then real trees of the same size, but
tend to cost less in the long run because they can be used for 6-10
years. And more money is saved with a pre-decorated tree if you
don't already have a tree stand, lights, and ornaments.
* Artificial trees are made of PVC plastic and eventually go to a
landfill. On the other hand, you save driving around each year
looking for the right tree. And an artificial tree can be left up
all year, saving the time of packing and unpacking it.
* The environmental impact of a real tree is less than an artificial
tree, but still very small.
Consider a Live Tree
The most eco-friendly way to enjoy a Christmas tree is to buy a live
tree with its roots intact. Find one at your local nursery or
farmer's market. Dig your hole when you purchase the tree, and only
keep it in the house for a week so you don't wake it up.
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