The Christmas Tree Dilemma - Real or Artificial?

Here we are at the beginning of another Christmas holiday season. If you're like me, every year you go through the dilemma of deciding whether you should or shouldn't buy a real tree. I love the smell and the look of real trees. I also love bringing a bit of nature into my home for a little while. But I'm a believer in living "green", so I've always felt a little guilty about being the cause of another tree losing it's life in the name of holiday decorations.

After doing a little investigation, I was surprised to discover that buying a real tree is probably more eco-conscious than using an artificial one! Here's why...

According to the National Christmas Tree Association (yes, there really is one!), many people believe you save a tree by using an artificial tree. In reality, Christmas trees are grown as a crop, just like your veggies. They are planted by farmers to be used specifically for Christmas trees. Here in the USA, we grow almost half a billion trees on these tree farms. They also point out that artificial trees are transported, usually from China, in a large, sturdy cardboard box. It seems to me that cardboard boxes are made from paper, so not many trees are being saved there!

Let's explore another myth - fake trees are fireproof. As it turns out, according to the National Fire Protection Association, 28% of home fires involving Christmas trees turned out to be fake trees - hmmm...

Then there's the myth that it's better to use a fake tree because you can reuse it year-after-year. I've had an artificial tree in the past. After a few years use, they tend to loose their shape and begin looking really "artificial". It seems that many people feel the same way, since research has shown that most fake trees are used only 6 to 9 years. After that they end up in a landfill where, unlike real trees, they sit for years and years and years, since they are non-biodegradable and non-recyclable.

Another myth is that real trees may have pesticides and chemicals on them. Again, according to the National Christmas Tree Association, Christmas tree farmers don't use chemicals in a "harmful" way. They are only used when needed and only according to instructions given by the EPA, USDA, and the FDA.

According to Earth911.com, about 93% of our real Christmas trees are recycled through more than 4,000 recycling programs available nationwide. I especially like the idea that our real trees are reused for mulch, landscaping and gardening, playground material, hiking trails, paths, and walkways. They can also be used for beachfront erosion prevention, lake and river shoreline stabilization and fish and wildlife habitats.

A third alternative, that I'm particularly partial to, is buying a real potted tree and planting it after Christmas. As I have discovered in the past, you have to be very conscientious about getting the tree out of your home and planting it within a short period of time in order for the real tree to live through the trauma of being indoors out of its natural environment.

The more I read about the drawbacks of artificial trees:

Manufactured with metal and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), non-biodegradable materials, and some may contain lead.
Many being shipped from China (where's the "green" in that?!)
Taking up landfill space, with no redeeming qualities of being recyclable. Not adding to our ecology in any positive way that I can see...
Not fireproof, as proved by the National Fire Protection Association.
Possible health problems of lead dust coming from plastic trees - so much so that my state, California, requires a warning label on trees and wreaths.

It seems like a no-brainer to me - I will be happy to buy real trees in the future!

Still not convinced? This short video will give you some compelling reasons why real is better, not to mention that when you buy a local, real tree you're supporting the "Made in America" movement, helping American's keep working!