While some revel in the scent of real trees and the joy of picking up a tree from a local farm, others love the simplicity of artificial trees they can reuse for upcoming Christmases.
But consumers are becoming more climate-conscious, and considering which trees have the lowest impact on our rapidly warming planet has become an important part of holiday decisions. Plus, choosing a planet-friendly tree will likely land you on Santa’s good list.
So, which plants have the lowest carbon footprint – natural or store-bought plastic? It’s complicated, experts say.
“It’s definitely more nuanced and complex than you think,” Andy Finton, director of landscape conservation and forest ecologist at Nature Conservancy in Massachusetts, told CNN.
We’ve made a list – and checked it twice – of things to know before you choose between real and artificial.
The case of artificial trees
It’s easy to imagine that reusing an artificial tree year after year is the more sustainable option. But Finton said if an artificial tree is used for less than six years, the carbon cost will be greater than the investment in a natural tree.
Finton told CNN: “If artificial trees are used longer, that balance will shift. “And I’ve read that it will take 20 years for the carbon balance to come to par.”
Then there’s the shipping aspect. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, most artificial Christmas trees are imported into the United States from China, meaning the products are shipped by fossil fuel-powered ships across the Pacific Ocean, then shipped by vehicle. heavy loads before landing on the distributor’s shelf. or the threshold of the consumer.
“Artificial tree has been considered [in the study] Jami Warner, executive director of ACTA, told CNN. As for factors like production and shipping abroad, “Planting, fertilizing, and watering were taken into account for real plants, which have been in the field for about seven to eight years.”
What are the benefits of real trees?
If trees are cut down or burned, they can release the carbon they have stored back into the atmosphere. But Doug Hundley, a spokesman for the National Christmas Tree Association, which advocates for real trees, said the act of cutting down Christmas trees from a single farm would be balanced as farmers immediately planted many seedlings instead. .
“When we harvest or cut trees, we plant them back very quickly,” says Hundley.
“For me, the benefit of going to a Christmas tree farm as opposed to cutting down trees in the woods is that it centralizes the impact of tree removal in one spot,” he said. “And it puts the onus on the farmers to regenerate those trees.”
“What we’re doing by buying a natural Christmas tree is supporting local economies, local communities, local farmers, and for me it’s an important part of the conservation equation.” survive,” Finton said. “When a grower can derive economic benefit from their land, they are less likely to sell it to grow and less likely to convert it to other uses.”
Disposal problem
“Truly Christmas trees that end up in landfills are highly discouraged,” says Hundley, adding that there should be “separate areas for yard waste where Christmas trees can be stored.” can go to”.
“Once the tree is complete and used by the homeowner, it is very easy and common in the US for the tree to be cut down into mulch – and the stored carbon is returned to the ground,” adds Hundley.
Finton also says old Christmas trees can be reused for habitat restoration; They can help control erosion if placed along stream and riverbanks, and can even help aquatic habitats thrive if they are placed in rivers and lakes.
The end of life of an artificial tree is much different. They end up in landfills – where they can take hundreds of years to decompose – or incinerators, where they release harmful chemicals.
Key point
Weighing the pros and cons of a complex climate, the Christmas tree actually has the upper hand. But if you choose to decorate your hallway artificially, get a tree that you will love and use again for years.
Either way, Finton said, people should feel good about their decision and find other ways to tackle the climate crisis.
“It’s a debate, but once you’ve made your decision, you should feel good about your decision, because there are so many other things we can do in our lives that have an impact. the climate impact is even greater – such as driving less or advocating for policies that will expand renewable energy,” says Finton. “Enjoy the holidays and focus on other aspects of your life to reduce the impact of climate change.”
