Christmas is just around the corner and it will soon be time to deck the halls. However, the festive preparations are not all fun and games and many are faced with an annual dilemma. Should you buy a real or an artificial Christmas tree?
While either option can be found on both the naughty and nice lists, the short answer is – it depends. The environmental impact of both real and fake Christmas trees can be influenced by many factors. So, make an informed decision this holiday season. This article takes a closer look at the pros and cons of real and artificial Christmas trees.
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Prior to the 1930s, real Christmas trees were used around all households. Decorating your home with a real tree is tradition even today. Going out to the tree farm and looking for the perfect one has been a favourite of many families for ages. After all, there are few things that bring out the Christmas spirit as well as the smell of a fresh pine. However, they are losing popularity in recent years and sales of the artificial kind are on the rise. Many of those that choose fake trees over real ones have different reasons, but the main one is the guilt they feel about cutting a living tree.
Trying to be more environmentally friendly by chopping down a live evergreen may seem counter-intuitive. After all, aren’t we trying to save the forests? Well, here’s the thing – most Christmas trees aren’t taken from wild woods. They are grown in plantations specifically to be cut down and used during the holidays. Therefore, there is no actual deforestation taking place. What’s more – lots of tree farms plant more trees than they can sell! For every conifer that gets cut down, 1 to 3 new ones are planted. This means there are actually more and more trees growing and producing oxygen every year.
Real trees are high maintenance, however. After bringing the tree home, you need to be careful where you put it, as it cannot survive close to heat sources. A real Christmas tree also needs to be watered every day and sweeping up the fallen needles is a must if you want to keep your home looking neat.
Another factor that may sway you away from buying a real tree is the disposal of it after the holidays. Many people don’t know what to do with their evergreens and simply throw them away. A live tree that ends up in a landfill can emit the equivalent of 16kg of greenhouse gases. It will release methane due to the rotting process. This is not very green, but don’t worry – it’s not the only option! Real trees are recyclable. They can be mulched and used for landscaping. Potted Christmas trees, on the other hand, can be replanted in your garden and used again next year. If you wish to know more, read the “How to Look After Your Potted Christmas Tree” article we prepared.
If gardening is not your forte, you can rely on Fantastic Services to collect and recycle your Christmas tree.
The use of fake Christmas trees in households started when the American toilet brush company, Addis Brush, created an artificial tree using brush bristles. This way they inadvertently kickstarted an entire industry.
There are undeniable benefits to choosing an artificial Christmas tree. One of the main reasons people opt for fake trees is their convenience. There are several other motives other than not having to water the tree or sweep up fallen needles. There is no need to wander around in the freezing cold looking for the live conifer that is just right. Artificial trees are also a lot easier to transport and store. All you need to do is pop the packaged tree in your car. After the holidays, simply put it back in its box and store it away to be used next year.
That brings us to the second point – reusability. Having a fake tree waiting for you in the attic is far more convenient than having to drive out to the farm every year. You may need to pay a bit more for a good quality tree, but reusing it year after year saves you money in the long run.
That’s just it, though. You need to reuse your fake tree to make it environmentally friendly. Most artificial trees are made of plastic and metal. The combination of these materials means they aren’t recyclable or biodegradable. This means that your tree will end up in a landfill and once it does – it’s there forever. Researchers found that it could take up to 20 years of usage for your tree to become more environmentally friendly than a real one. The carbon footprint of a 6.5 ft artificial Christmas tree is equal to 40 kg of greenhouse gas emissions. That’s more than twice that of a live one that ends up in a landfill and around 10 times that of a real tree that is burned! If you do opt for a fake tree, it’s recommended that you use it for at least 10 years.
Some fake trees are made entirely out of PVC and often contain toxic materials such as lead to stabilise their shape. Prolonged exposure to such materials has been shown to play a major role in stunting early-childhood development as well as nerve damage. Many scientists now believe that there is no safe level of exposure to lead.
Fortunately, many companies have traded in pure PVC for a mix of polyethylene (PE) and PVC. This not only reduces the potential toxicity, but also allows for more realistic fake Christmas trees. Three-dimensional PE needles are placed at the front of the branch, while flat PVC bristles fill in the backs.
If you have chosen to buy an artificial tree this year, here is what to look for in order to choose the safest one:
There are quite a few myths floating around regarding the fire risks posed by real and artificial Christmas trees. It is commonly believed that real trees are more susceptible to catching fire, due to the fact that artificial trees have a fire-retardant coating.
Although real Christmas trees can catch fire faster, flame-retardant fake Christmas trees are a bigger fire hazard. Yes, they do have fire-retardant coating but that will only resist fire to a certain degree. When they do burn, they emit large amounts of highly toxic smoke. And let’s not forget that a lot of artificial trees come pre-lit and have faulty foot-pedal controllers which overheat. On top of that pre-lit artificial Christmas trees can cause fires and even turn into a shock hazard due to exposed wiring or cords which aren’t plugged in all the way.
To avoid this from happening we advise you to stay away from pre-lit artificial trees and just add the lights yourself to a plain, fake Christmas tree.
As long as you take proper care of your real Christmas tree, it will be much less likely to cause harm due to fire. Here are some tips on how to reduce the risk of your real tree going up in flames.
After taking everything into consideration, we support and recommend the use of real Christmas trees. Not only are they better for the environment, but they also carry a sense of nostalgia and perfectly embody the Christmas spirit. Wonder what’s the price of a real tree? Read our post on how much does a real Christmas tree cost.
Nevertheless, a real Christmas tree may not be the right choice for you, and that will depend on how the tree is used and what conditions you have to accommodate it.
To make this holiday season less stressful, Fantastic Services offers a Christmas tree delivery and installation service. You can book a full service, including installation and even disposal after the holidays, or just have the tree delivered. A team of professionals will carry out the delivery and tree setup. Once the holidays have passed, you need not worry about what to do with your evergreen. The team can collect the tree for you and recycle it.
Order your cut or pot-grown tree today!
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Did we miss anything? Do you have any tips for choosing a Christmas tree? Let us know in the comments below or give us a shout on social media!
Image source: shutterstock / kryzhov
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