"Oh Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree, how environmentally green are thee?" So which is better, fake or real tree? [And those of you in Los Angeles or Miami thought I was talking about a certain anatomical feature. ]Nothing says "Christmas" like the smell of pine in your living room on a winter morning! But is that smell really "green" or is it bad for the planet? Is it more environmentally responsible to buy a fake tree and use it year after year? What about keeping a live tree for Christmas? Let's look at the options one by one.
If you want a tree for the holiday, the experts at Grist and TreeHugger say it's actually better to buy a real live Christmas tree than an artificial tree.
Why? In a word, plastics. Fake trees are made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Per the experts, lead is commonly found in PVC. According to a report in the Journal of Environmental Health, lead levels are about a third higher in older artificial trees (ranging in age from from 7 to 17 years). Tests revealed lead levels that are significantly higher than the safe daily exposure level for children. But do kids normally chew on fake tree branches? Regardless even if they do not munch on the bristly branches, producing PVC creates a lot of pollution and it's difficult to recycle.
Farmed Christmas trees are ultimately a renewable resource. Growing trees absorb carbon dioxide, and after the holidays, the trees can be recycled into mulch. Check Earth 911 to see where to take your dead tree after the 25th.
What about a live tree? This is often promoted as the ultimate eco-friendly holiday option. Well, it's not that simple. First, you have to live in the right climate to plant a tree after Christmas. If the ground is frozen outside, it could prove difficult if not impossible.
Then, you can only keep a live tree indoors for a few days, either 4 to 10, depending on the type of tree. You can't have this tree up after Thanksgiving and around till New Years, or you'll kill it.
Some types of live trees can be kept outside in containers for a year or two. Others grow fast and must be planted in the ground sooner. Either way, this isn't a long-term solution to your Christmas decorations -- what do you do the following year? Pretty soon, the tree won't fit in the house.
Also, you must carefully consider how much space you have in your yard to plant trees. Remember, these trees may grow up to 60-feet tall.
So, the most practical solution for earth-friendly folks who celebrate Christmas is to look for a locally grown tree. Ask if the farm uses integrated pest management instead of tons of chemicals. If you can, find a cut-your-own Christmas tree farm. It's good family fun too.
So what if you don't have a backyard, live in a city and do not have Christmas tree recycling nearby? Easy solution: Forego the tree, and let the nativity scene be the focal point! Isn't the birth of a special baby what Christmas is all about?
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Merry Christmas!
