Christmas Tree: Is buying real the green choice?

By Sirena Van Schaik

Growing up, my family had this beautiful Christmas tree that we stored every year in a huge army bag. It had many different branches and each one had to be inserted into the pole. Yes, it was a fake Christmas tree but I always thought that because we weren’t cutting down a Christmas tree each year, we were actually being green when it came to the environment.

Fast forward several years and in comes my husband. He grew up with the yearly tradition of heading out to the Christmas tree lot and either choosing a cut one or cutting down a new tree. I was horrified the first time that he mentioned it to me and was so thankful when my mother purchased a fake tree for my first Christmas on my own. I knew, without a doubt that my fake tree was much more eco-friendly than him going out and chopping down a tree.

Of course, over the years, and after spending most of them with him begging me for a real tree each year, I finally started to see a shift in the overall “green” thought and became more aware of the carbon footprint my fake trees were making. It finally became obvious that fake Christmas trees may not be as “green” as I once thought they were and the eco-friendly choice was real trees after all.

But why are real trees considered eco-friendly? Well, there are a lot of reasons and I have outlined them below. Remember that with all choices, there are pros and cons and it is up to the individual to decide on what the “green” choice is for them.

No Chemicals:

Okay, this can actually be debated on since many growers will use pesticides on their trees but if you look for an organic grower, you will find a tree that is as free of chemicals as you can get in today’s modern age.

Regardless of the pesticides used, when you purchase a real tree for Christmas instead of using a fake, you will be assured that your tree is free of the following chemicals.

Lead: Many fake trees contain lead since it is used to stabilize the PVC that is used in making fake Christmas trees. Although the lead used is small, it can pose a health risk for children and lead poisoning can lead to damage to the central nervous system.

PVC: I already mentioned this when I talked about lead but many Christmas trees are made with PVC. Not only does PVC emit carcinogen (cancer causing agents) but they are not biodegradable.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle:

With real trees, you are going to be embarking in that wonderful tradition of both reusing and recycling, although I’m not sure if reduce would really play a part in this. When you use a real tree, you can put your tree out for mulching or you can take it to a Christmas tree depot where they will find a use for the mulch they create.

Another great way to reduce, reuse and recycle is to use a potted evergreen for your Christmas tree. You get the enjoyment of smelling it throughout the winter and in the spring; you can plant it in your yard.

Growth Opportunity:

No, I am not talking about the growth opportunity that is involved with that specific tree but think about the type of growth that using a Christmas tree initiates. For one, it provides an income for the grower, which allows the grower to continue farming. In addition, a grower is continuously replanting new trees to replace the ones that he cuts down and this in turn creates green spaces. And you know what green spaces mean, better air quality, and habitats.

Smaller Carbon Footprint:

Lastly, I would like to state that purchasing a real tree leaves a smaller footprint. When you purchase a fake tree, there is a huge carbon footprint. First you leave a footprint with manufacturing and since you are using chemicals during manufacturing, you see an increased footprint at that time. Once the trees are made, it is a matter of shipping and then finally getting it from the store to your home.

With real trees, there is a carbon footprint but it is much smaller and if you buy from local growers, you won’t have the additional footprint of shipping. You will simply have the footprint of driving to the tree grower, and driving back home.

In the end, deciding what is greener is a matter of personal choice. Some people feel that since they are not buying a new tree every year, their carbon footprint goes down significantly while others feel that the initial footprint leaves to lasting an effect to the environment.

I know for myself, that this Christmas will be another year that a real tree is adorned with all the ornaments of the season.