Since the green movement took hold, there’s been an ongoing debate as to whether the popular fresh-smelling real Christmas tree is more or less environmentally correct than its cousin, the fake Christmas tree.
Many people thought that to purchase a farmed tree, prop it up in one’s living room for a couple of weeks, and then toss the thing out for the wood chipper, was a sure sign of environmental bad behaviour. The resources and energy that go into growing, chopping and transporting that farmed tree just don’t make sense, right?
On the other hand, is purchasing a fake tree manufactured in China that is potentially made out of polyvinyl chloride, or dreaded PVC, a wise choice for the family?
Consider that some of those PVC trees reportedly contain lead, and you might think twice.
Ironically, the first artificial Christmas trees were said to have first been created in 19th century Germany, as a reaction to so much deforestation. Back then, the fake tree was mostly composed of goose feathers.
These days, people more often choose a fake tree because they require less care and clean up, as well as the fact that many strata councils don’t allow real trees because they are perceived as more of a fire hazard.
Still others appreciate the hip quotient of a fake tree, the irony of having a pure white or silver tree standing brazenly in the corner, like some bleached diva in sequins. Fake trees are always a big seller in the Yuletide season, selling anywhere from $40 for a tabletop version to upwards of $1,000 for the life size ones.
According to the U.S. National Christmas Tree Association, 85 per cent of fake trees in North America come from China. This year there were between 40 and 45 million trees planted in North America for Christmas, with about 446 million trees grown in the U.S. alone. The association claims the trees are carbon neutral because in the growing of them they absorb carbon dioxide, and when decomposing, they release nutrients such as nitrogen and carbon back into the soil. The association also says that most pesticides are ground applied, so the trees themselves are relatively chemical free.
As well, the website Doityourself.com says that most artificial trees are tossed out after nine years of use.
Greenpeace co-founder Dr. Patrick Moore has said that a renewable resource such as a live tree is a better choice. He has said that the real choice is whether to buy a cut or potted tree.
For Portland, Oregon residents, there’s an even better option: rent a Christmas tree. The Original Living Christmas Tree Company will deliver a live potted tree of your choice to your door for around $80 U.S. and pick it up a couple of weeks later, after the holiday, so it can be returned to the ground. The company has been around since 1992, and remarkably, it’s a bit of a lone operator in North America.
