Real Christmas Tree vs Fake Christmas Tree: Which is Better for the Environment?
Which type of tree should you get this year?
It's the great holiday debate! No, we're not talking about whether or not Santa is real. We're talking about Christmas trees. Whether you have an artificial tree or a real tree, this thought may have crossed your mind: Is my Christmas tree more or less environmentally friendly than its rival?
It's a worthwhile thought experiment—especially since climate change doesn't take a break during the holidays. Plus, 95 million families put up a Christmas tree every year. With that in mind, let's dive into the cases for both real and fake trees.
The case for real trees
Fresh cut trees are biodegradable. They can be composted (make sure you log in our app if you do compost!), used for lumber, or turned into mulch. In other words, real trees can live far beyond the holidays by fertilizing next year's corp.
Fewer greenhouse gases. Plastic is made from fossil fuels, and so is a plastic tree. Around 10 million fake Christmas trees are purchased in the U.S. every year and nearly 90% of those are shipped from China. That means more fossil fuels and carbon emissions for transportation, production, etc.
The planting and wildlife argument. Only 30 million trees—out of the estimated 300-500 million available on American tree farms—are harvested specifically for Christmas. Buying real Christmas trees can help keep tree farms in business, which means sustaining and supporting a healthy forest habitat that wildlife depends on.
As a bonus, the National Christmas Tree Association (yes, that's a thing) says that for every real tree purchased, farmers plant one to three seedlings in its place. That means that after you rock around your real tree during the holidays, new trees get planted.
The case for fake trees
Reusability. Artificial Christmas trees are reusable! This is obvious, but important. You can use your beautifully green plastic, pre-lit tree over and over again—saying no thanks to the landfill year after year.
Less hassle. With all due respect to the a majestic spruce or the classic evergreens, they can be pretty needy. Save on water and avoiding having to sweep pines or trim branches all season long.
Safety. There's a family-friendly safety argument to be made for artificial trees: most of them are are made with fire-resistant materials.
Cost. The average cost of a real tree is $78 while the average cost of an artificial tree is $104. If that's accurate, using the fake tree would pay for itself and more the second time you put it up!
The verdict
Ultimately, the most environmentally friendly tree is going to be the one that's bought locally and recycled properly. Since most plastic trees are not recyclable, most of the time a natural tree is going to come out ahead when it comes to environmental impact.
Tips for a greener season
That said, here are a few tips to make your selection even more environmentally friendly, whether you go real or fake:
If you decide on an artificial tree (or already have one), find a great storage space for it and keep it as long as possible - many years if you can swing it.
If you don't have a tree yet, find a sale on a perfectly usable artificial tree at a thrift store! That's a great way to recycle while injecting some holiday spirit into your home.
Secondly, if you buy a real tree, consider buying locally to reduce the amount of emissions it requires and definitely compost it after using it.
Consider buying a living Christmas tree (which can be planted or donated after use) or renting a live tree (yes, you can do this!)
Remember that your tree is just one piece of the puzzle of having an environmentally friendly holiday season. From your decorations, to how you travel, to the gifts you buy try to broaden your eco inspiration.
Happy holidays!