Real vs Fake: Which Christmas Tree is Greener?

Northern Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) perched in a pine tree

The holiday season is upon us! Peppermint has unceremoniously kicked pumpkin spice to the curb, and stores are blasting those jolly Christmas classics on repeat once again. Perhaps you've even found yourself in a festive mood lately and started hanging the lights outside, and placing your favourite decorations around the house. While the holidays are full of joy and laughter, they're also filled to the brim with waste. The choices we make in our daily lives have a direct impact on our environment - even during the holidays. One of the most painstaking decisions to make this time of year surrounds the beloved Christmas Tree.. real or fake? Before we ran out to grab that new pre-lit, pre-decorated, fake snow dusted artificial tree, or chopped down that picture perfect, aromatic spruce, we wanted to know which is the most eco-friendly choice. Here's what we found out.


Real Tree
Pros
Real Christmas trees are a renewable resource and 100% recyclable. Properly managed tree farms have a "harvest one, plant one" system in place to continue the growing cycle. Many townships also have curbside pickup days for Christmas trees, which are often recycled in to compost or garden mulch. Another great idea for recycling real trees after the holidays is to donate them to wildlife centres who use them in their rehab enclosures to give the animals natural surroundings while in recovery. While growing, real Christmas trees also benefit the environment by stabilizing the soil, providing vital habitat for wildlife, absorbing CO2, and producing oxygen (each acre provides enough daily oxygen to support 18 people!). Plus, Christmas trees are typically grown in soil that isn't suited for growing other crops, helping to maintain green spaces. Our final pro of choosing a real tree, you will be supporting local economy by purchasing from small business owners in your community.

Cons
Now for the cons. While growing trees sounds like the ideal practice for the environment, there are some aspects that are not so friendly. These include year-round pesticide and herbicide use (depending on grower; research is key if you want to avoid a business using these methods), and the use of gas powered vehicles & tools for day-to-day farm duties. As recyclable and reusable as they are, many Christmas trees go to waste and are simply tossed after use, and if allowed to dry out can pose potential fire hazards. Lastly, with poor management practices, the habitat and land used for growing Christmas trees can degrade over time and become inhabitable for many species of flora and fauna.


Artificial Tree
Pros
Artificial trees are no doubt the most convenient option when it comes to choosing a Christmas tree. They don't require watering like a real tree, which is a plus not only for convenience, but for decreasing water usage. They also come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, colours, and you can even get them pre-lit and pre-decorated with unique styles to suit everyone's tastes. Another pro of choosing an artificial tree, is that they are (or can be) a one-time purchase which saves on money, and resources required to grow and harvest real Christmas trees year after year.

Cons
Unfortunately, the cons for artificial trees far outweigh the pros in the case of negative environmental impact. Artificial trees are typically produced abroad where environmental regulations are weak, working conditions are poor, and employees are paid low wages. They are made from fossil fuels, which are a non-renewable resource. Most artificial trees are made from PVC, a petroleum-based plastic that contains phthalates (chemicals that help make plastic more flexible). These chemicals have been shown to collect in body tissue and over time can cause damage to reproductive organs, liver, and lungs. In addition to phthalates, lead can also be found in PVC, and some manufacturers will use it to create artificial "needles" on the tree. After production, the trees are packaged in plastic bags, plastic wrap, with plastic ties, and shipped thousands of kilometers to reach Canadian stores. The emissions from production and shipping alone add to the growing problem of air pollution and climate change. Finally, when it comes to recycling, artificial trees receive a big fat F. Most households replace their artificial tree within 10 years, sending their old one to the landfill as plastic waste where it cannot be recycled, and will never break down or will be incinerated further adding to air pollution.

Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) with a WBU Hot Pepper Cranberry Wreath

Conclusion
Between real and fake trees in the green department, real Christmas trees stand out as the clear winner, though neither options have a 100% green report card. If you'd rather an artificial tree for convenience, consider shopping second-hand. Thrift store out of trees? When purchasing a new artificial tree, shop for a quality, long lasting tree to avoid sending it to a landfill in a few years time. Of course, you could forego the traditional tree altogether and try one of these alternative Christmas tree ideas. But the greenest option of them all? A live, potted tree. Decorate for the holidays, then plant it in the ground in the spring and repeat the next year. Before you know it you will have built an important habitat that provides food and shelter for all kinds of wildlife!

Happy Trails (& Holidays)!
- Shayna