The Christmas Tree Debate
The Christmas Tree is a staple home décor item during the holiday season (even if you’re not religious like me). And while the classic coniferous trees aren’t available in all parts of the country, they grow abundantly in my home state of Maine. So depending on where you live, you might have the option to have a real tree, or a fake tree.
Growing up my family and I went to a Christmas tree farm every year, walked the groves of conifers, and picked out a tree that was just right to cut down and bring home. Cookies and hot chocolate were complimentary, and pictures of the previous year’s customers hung on the wall, so we would play a Where’s Waldo game to see who could find our picture the fastest.
For those of you with the option of choosing between a real tree and a fake tree, I’m going to go through the pros and cons of each one to help you decide, then share, as an environmentalist, which kind I have in my house.
Real Trees
Pros
Carbon Sequestration
When compared with fake trees, real trees provide carbon sequestration, the process in which carbon is removed from the atmosphere and stored in the form of biomass and soil carbon. However, from pesticide use, equipment to maintain the farm and harvest the trees, and transportation from the farm, to tree lots, to eventually your house, the degree to which Christmas trees act as a carbon sink is marginal.
Green Space
Another consideration is the fact that Christmas tree farms provide green space, which can serve as wildlife habitat and sometimes recreational opportunities. As shown below, forested areas that have Christmas tree varieties account for much of the land throughout the northern portions of the country and higher altitude areas in the west. Additionally, in Maine, working forests have roads that are typically open for the public and provide access to rural areas that would otherwise be inaccessible.
Supporting Local Business
In climates where conifer trees grow naturally, you’re likely to have smaller scale Christmas tree farms that are family owned and operated. By opting to purchase a real tree from a smaller farm, you’re encouraging local agriculture, supporting small business, and reinvesting more directly into your community.
Cons
Maintenance
Real trees require a lot of maintenance. The base needs to be cut prior to putting the tree in the holder to allow for better water uptake. Trees need to be trimmed once in the home, and of course watered regularly to get them through the holidays. And despite how much you water your tree, needles will fall, so frequent sweeping around the base of your tree is needed.
Hazardous
While unlikely if you’re taking all the right precautions, real trees do still pose a fire hazard risk. It’s important to keep your tree well away from sources of heat (like baseboard heaters), keep them watered so they don’t dry out, and use LED lights to decorate as they are often cooler when lit then a traditional incandescent string of lights. While more a hazard for your home than your health, real trees do carry insects, so it’s important to inspect your tree before bringing it inside.
Single Use
No matter how fresh your tree is, you will only get one season out of it. Picking out a tree every year as a holiday tradition can be so much fun, but it’s definitely something to consider when choosing between a real tree or fake tree.
Fake Trees
Pros
Availability
Fake trees are readily available across the country at most major home improvement stores, making them accessible to more people.
Variety
Fake trees come in a variety of sizes, colors, and prices. As a result, it’s somewhat easier to customize the tree to your own home than dealing with a real tree.
Extended Season and Reuse
Since you’re not dealing with a living (and simultaneously dying) organism, you can extend the duration of your seasonal holiday decorations. Additionally, fake trees can be reused year after year, which is beneficial from a sustainability standpoint but also gives you a predictable tree whereas a real tree will be different in size, shape, condition from year to year.
Cons
Storage
Because you will be reusing your fake tree year after year, this requires you to store the tree when it’s not in use, which will take up space in your home.
Disposal
Almost all fake trees are made from plastics and metal. Plastics are non-biodegradable and persist in the environment long term. The eventual disposal of a fake tree will be a landfill.
Production
The majority of artificial Christmas trees are made in China, according to the US Department of Commerce, with some numbers suggesting upwards of 90%. Not only does this not support local business, but also increases emissions associated with your artificial tree from transport.
My Choice?
After purchasing my own home in 2016, I got a real tree for the first three years. However, with a small home and limited placement options, it was difficult to find a tree that would fit.
Despite how much I loved the experience of going to a local farm and picking my favorite tree, and the incredible aroma of a fresh fir, I eventually decided to go the artificial route.
Now, I can keep my tree up from November to February (hey, winters are dark and long here in Maine, don’t judge), and know that year after year I will have a perfectly sized tree for my small house.
The option I chose was pre-lit, however, once the bulbs start dying they are hard to locate and replace, and now I just add my own lights to it. So I would recommend the bare trees as a more cost effective and less wasteful option.
Lastly, you can still support your local tree farms by purchasing a real wreath which are made from the tree trimmings.
The Data
Perhaps the best data available to inform your decision is the comparative life cycle assessment of real trees vs fake trees completed by WAP Sustainability Consulting in 2018.
The results of this study show that the choices made by the customer are a significant contributor to the
impacts of both Christmas trees. For the real Christmas tree customer, the manner in which the tree is
disposed of at the end of its life is a major contributor to the impacts of the real Christmas tree. For the
artificial Christmas tree customer, the length of use is the primary contributor to the artificial Christmas
tree impacts… An artificial tree purchased and used for at least 4.7 years demonstrates a lower contribution to environmental impact than 4.7 real Christmas trees purchased over 4.7 years.
While the majority of impacts evaluated in this study are focused on emissions, it’s important to acknowledge that emissions are only one component of sustainability. So below I offer some closing thoughts to help you decide what’s best for your home this holiday season and how to enjoy your tree (real or fake) as sustainably as possible.
In Conclusion
Additional considerations for Real Trees
Ultimately, there is a little more variability of the potential considerations for a real tree. Growing up in Maine where fir trees are readily present, many people I know go cut one down off their own property, or go to a local farm and cut the tree down themselves while supporting a local business. Obviously there would be less impacts associated in that are compared to someone who lives further away from where their trees are grown.
Regarding disposal, most people I know dispose of their real trees in one of two ways. Drag it out into “the back 40” (aka their own woods) and let it decompose, or they burn it during a brush/bon fire, both of which would be more sustainable options than putting the tree in a landfill (which the study considered). In some places, state or federal wildlife agencies collect the trees to create a variety of different habitats from reefs for fish to brush piles for rabbits.
Additional Considerations for Fake Trees
As stated in the study, using your fake tree for 5 years or longer is the best way to lower the environmental impacts.
In some instances, wildlife rehab facilities will accept your old artificial tree as they provide training and enrichment “habitat” for the animal enclosures.
Other Alternatives
Decorate Existing House Plant
Perhaps you already have a house plant, like an increasingly common fiddle leaf fig tree, that you can add lights to. When my best friend lived in Utah, she decorated her taller house cactus for a festive southwest holiday feel.
Living Tree Programs
Some tree farms or nurseries will offer a living Christmas tree, which comes in a pot that you can return after the holidays for them to continue growing. If you live in a climate that supports Christmas tree species like spruces and firs, you could also create your own by purchasing a young potted tree and eventually planting it in your yard when it gets too big for your home.
Wall Tree
Using a wall to create a tree design has become a common decoration practice. There are many ways to express your creativity with this space saving and unique alternative.
DIY Tree
There are so many do it yourself options when it comes to making your own tree, check out this article for some inspiration!
Ultimately, the real tree vs fake tree debate is one that only you can answer depending on what is best for you!
