For the first twenty something years of my life, real Christmas trees were the only option I ever knew. And frankly, artificial trees were so depressingly plastic-looking back then, I’m glad it was never an issue in my house.
Then something happened.
As a thirty-something, we bought a house that had a very tall ceiling and screamed for a tree that was nearly as tall. But after one year of spending nearly $200 on a 12-foot real tree, I knew something had to give.
It didn’t take a math wizard to understand how quickly one can go broke paying for $200 trees each year when today’s fake trees look so realistic. Besides, now they come pre-lit, assemble in three easy pieces and store in a sturdy cardboard box. And just think of all the trees I’d save over the years. We did our shopping, found an artificial tree we liked and made the investment.
I felt pretty good about knowing I’d never have to buy another ‘throw-away’ tree again and I’d be doing something good for the environment too.
Wrong! Every eco-friendly thing I thought I was doing in defense of buying an artificial tree went out the window. Here are a few of the reasons why as noted in a recent conversation I had with Rick Dungey, Public Relations Manager for the National Christmas Tree Association:
Artificial trees never biodegrade
One of the most common reasons for buying an artificial tree is their longevity. Although artificial trees can last for years, eventually they are discarded where they remain in a landfill forever more. Fake trees are non-biodegradable so they never break down.
Artificial trees include potentially harmful material
Part of what makes artificial trees so sturdy are the components used in their construction. PVC plastics are made from petroleum by products, heavy metals are used to stabilize the plastics and the metal branches are mined from the earth. In California, warning labels are even required on artificial trees to alert users of the potential risk of hazardous materials…including lead.
Artificial trees are imported thousands of miles
Buying local and supporting area businesses doesn’t apply to artificial trees. Most are made in China, shipped across the Pacific and then travel many more miles to reach their final destination.
They’re shipped in cardboard boxes
How many trees do they kill each year to make the boxes to ship the fake trees?
Now, having pretty much bashed the fake Christmas tree industry, I certainly recognize there are circumstances where artificial trees are more appropriate for certain users and I respect that. However, when the opportunity presents itself for those that do have an option, think twice before opting for artificial Christmas trees as the greener option, because they’re not. Your thoughts?
About Joe Lamp'l
Joe Lamp'l is the Host and Executive Producer of the award winning PBS television series Growing A Greener World. Off camera, Joe dedicates his time to promoting sustainability through his popular books, blog, podcast series, and nationally syndicated newspaper columns. Follow Joe on Twitter
Part of our Christmas ritual is getting the tree and we try to involve everyone we’ll be sharing the holiday with. We also buy locally. We are lucky to have a Christmas tree farm in town. It’s all about being outdoors, wandering through perfect trees, adding a pleasant activity to the tradition and smell of evergreen trees. None of this can be replaced with an artificial tree.
We are a live tree family all the way. I spent weeks in the summers of my childhood pruning “Christmas trees”. Trees that are now 40-50 feet tall!!! Our Christmas tree plantation did not quite work out the way my family had hoped, but it has left us all with an appreciation for a live tree at Christmas. Nothing compares to the look & smell of a real tree.
I hated the idea of cutting down a real tree too, even if it was from a tree farm. So we sort of solved the problem by buying a small live tree growing in a pot. We used that tree for four years in a row, each year growing bigger and bigger. The fourth year we had a heck of a time hauling it into the house (we put it outside after Christmas). It finally had to go when I discovered it was covered with ants that lived in the pot and trailed to each little candy cane I had all over the branches. Even though the candy canes had plastic wrappings, the ants still got in. Outside it went in a hurry, and we planted it in the ground in our backyard. Now it’s taller than the house, a beautiful green spruce with bird nests in it! It’s lovely, but since then we opted for an artificial one. It’s much easier to use, but I have to admit I do miss the aroma of the live tree.
I’m all for going green, but I have to admit I love my artificial tree, which by the way was given to me and has lasted many years. I think a case can be made for both sides real and artificial. What really did it for me is the year I fell in an ice covered tree stump hole while cutting down our tree. After visiting my doctor with a back/ hip injury I decided that I was done with real trees. My cat also liked to climb them and one year to keep it from falling over we had to tie it to the wall. Oh and pine needles we found years later. Another point I would mention is that elderly and disabled individuals have a much easier time dealing with a small artificial tree. I think if you are not wasteful and willing to reuse the same tree for many years, artificial trees are a good alternative, Each to their own.
Thanks for the article and everyone’s comments on the trees. I enjoy a cut tree every year. I make wreaths and/or garlands for myself and others from extra greenery and enjoy the scent it gives. Afterwards the tree is either made into compost or put outside with food on it for the birds and animals or it gets cut up for fire wood if power goes out. The North Carolina mountains have beautiful tree farms in abundance and I’m happy to support the families that own and work them. Merry Christmas!!
I had a plastic christmas tree from the early 90s that my mother donated to me. I used it for close to 8 years plus the 10 -12 years she had it. In the end the tree which was top of the line when my mother bought it so long ago decided to start dropping needles everywhere. I also welcomed a set of twin girls home in 2009. After finding an enormous amount of needles in Cerrah’s mouth the day after christmas we decided to recycle the christmas tree. We now only use real christmas trees considering all of the chemicals emitted off of the trees as well as the fact that if one of my girls, or hopefully soon other children get a handful of pine needles they won’t be introduced to the harmful effects of lead and any other fire retardants. I feel the risk of the tree catching fire is minimal, especially if you use led lights, keep it well watered, as well as only plug it in when you are home to enjoy it! All green options! Anyways Merry Christmas, and love the show!
We’ve also had our artificial tree for 20+ years and will probably get at least 10 more. Once it no longer serves it’s purpose we’ll recycle. We haven’t had to jump into our car to drive into the woods or to a tree lot to get a tree. The gas guzzling garbage truck has never had to stop at our house to pick up our tree. Sounds like a pretty effective use of the three “r”s… reduce, reuse, and recycle. Mostly, though, we just don’t enjoy killing a tree every year.
All good points Mark. And you are absolutely right about making use of the 3 R’s for something you already have. I agree there is no point in replacing an artificial tree that have given you years of good service with promises of many more to come.
To your point about killing a tree every year, you’d be hard pressed to find a bigger tree-loving, treehugger than me. And I doubt I’d cut one down in the woods just for indoor decoration. Not a fan of that at all. However, I don’t have the same issues with tree farms that raise trees each year from new seedlings in a sustainable way for the purposes of ultimate harvesting several years later. During their years of service, they are contributing to our air quality and providing habitat to wildlife, etc. and providing local and seasonal jobs.
Thanks for taking the time to chime in on this.
I’ve been researching the few articles I can find regarding going green during the holiday season. This is my first Christmas at my house; years past I never bothered to put up a tree or decorate because we’d always go to another family members house to celebrate. In a nutshell I’ve decided to go with a real organic sustainably made tree. After HBO’s documentary on the hazard of fire retardeds and the potential hazards of PVC I’ll take my chances with a live tree any day. The chances of having a house fire are far lower than that of my body or my toddler absorbing and piling up harmful chemicals in our bodies….
Artificial all the way, primarily for safety reasons. The fire hazard of a real tree offsets any perceived “green” advantage, and as the above poster noted, the plastic parts can be stripped and recycled, and the metal sold for scrap. Also,i hardly consider the opinion of a PR flak for the National Christmas Tree Association to have an unbiased opinion!
Good points Peg. No doubt, the safety issue is huge. To me, it’s the biggest argument in defense of artificial trees in the home. And yes, the parts could be stripped down and recycled, but how many people really do that. I’m sure not many. I recognize the potential bias of an industry spokesperson for sourcing facts, but in this case, I don’t see any issues here that are not true. Thanks for weighing in.
Great post, Joe. My family and I have been partial to the “real thing;” and living close enough to a number of tree farms sure helps! I blogged about our recent family tree-getting excursion: http://tinyurl.com/6vaagn.
When the tree comes down, we avoid the landfill and usually put it in the woods in our backyard, which makes a nice home for the little critters.
That label tells it all! Like you, I used to do the plastic thing, but I missed the aroma of a real tree. In the long run, yeah, I’ll be spending more cash on cut trees, but when you count the environmental costs, I think real will win.
Ellen, your comment sounds very much like what we are now doing as a family. Having grown up in Miami, there was no driving out on a snowy Saturday to cut down a tree. The closest thing we had to that was a sandy beach and a palm tree…not quite the same feeling.
Now, in in foothills of the Blue Ridge Parkway, we’re in christmas tree country and have the joy of driving to a nearby tree farm to pick and cut down our own tree. We’ll, actually, the guy cuts it for us, which is fine with me. Anyway, this year, my 10 & 9 year old daughters had the fun of doing all of this in the snow. That’s a new experience for them but the whole experience certainly adds to the feeling of Christmas. Thanks for sharing your story.
JL
I have such wonderful childhood memories of going out to cut our own tree every year…I’m definitely in the “real tree” camp. I’ll even take it one step further and say if you can cut your own, by all means, do. I didn’t grow up in an outdoorsy family, but we all loved the trip to the tree farm on a cold NH Saturday to pick and cut our own tree. It smelled great and made Christmas somehow more wild and adventurous.
We’ve used the same artificial tree goin on 20 years now. I think most of it can be recycled should I decide to toss it. No, most plastics won’t decompose, but then again, now days, most don’t need to because they’re recyclable. And I don’t think anyone will be eating my artificial tree.
We alternate every other year with a real tree, usually a fir because they’re the most aromatic.
Thanks for this great article – I live on a farm and have plenty of woods to go and chop down our tree. However I support the local tree farmer and buy my gorgeous tree from him. The tree I am buying has already been harvested so I feel as if I am spending my money in the right place. He appreciates the business and I feel good about the exchange.
Makes perfect sense Liz. I like your line of reasoning here. Thanks for sharing it.