Share & Voice: Christmas Tree Debate

Artificial tree or real tree? What do you have in your house?

In the holiday spirit I decided to look up some facts about whether to have a real christmas tree or artificial christmas tree and the environmental effects of both. This is a debate that happens every year around christmas time. What I have found is that there is not clear "answer" but there are some positive and negatives about both. After my research I think that going with the real tree is the better choice but I will present some facts and debatable ideas and let you decide. So what will you have in your house? Real or fake?

The Real Christmas Tree 

Negatives: The primary downside of a real christmas tree is the fact that they require repeated treatment of pesticides over their eight-year lifecycle. This means that they may contribute to pollution of local water run-off. This run-off water can lead into water supply's for local areas and end up in our glass of water! Another issue is the proper disposal of christmas trees. If trees are not recycled in proper areas they loose the value that they can bring to the earth when they naturally decompose and give their nutrients to the soil. Some people also debate that we kill trees to use them only for a short period of time and are taking away from our forest.

Positives: Besides the obvious and wonderful "christmas" smell that a real tree brings to your home, there are some other environmentally positive aspects as well. When we go and purchase our christmas trees from tree farmers we are encouraging them to continue to plant trees. The acres of trees they plant absorb carbon dioxide from the air, and soak up storm-water runoff which is full nutrient and sediment pollution, before it gets into our waterways. When the christmas season is over, many towns and cities have christmas tree disposals. This is the proper way to get rid of your tree (unless to took the roots with it and plan to re-plant it in your own yard) as they will dispose of it properly and let nature take care of natural decomposition.

The Artificial Christmas Tree 


Negatives: An artificial tree contains plastic and metal, both which are non-biodegradable. 85% of artificial trees are made in China in a factory and then shipped to local stores for distribution. This means that to make an artificial tree, a factory must be running (pollution) and then transported around the world (more pollution). Labor standards in China don't adequately protect workers from the dangerous chemicals they are handling.They are made with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) which is one of the most environmental offensive forms of non-renewable, petroleum-derived plastic. Several carcinogens, including dioxin, ethylene dichloride and vinyl chloride are generate during the production of PVC. Many of these chemicals have been linked to liver, kidney, neurological and reproductive system damage. There are even warning labels on the artificial tree box to avoid inhaling dust particles that come from the tree.

Positives: Convenience! That's how we live our lives right? Having an artificial tree is more convenient then having to go out everywhere and pick out your christmas tree from a local farmer. Researchers have shown that in order to lessen your artificial trees environmental impact you have to keep your tree for a  long time, 8 years is what one research showed, while another says 20! That seems to be reasonable because an artificial tree should last that long, and if you are committed to keeping the tree that long, then an artificial tree is the way you should go!

Sources

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/the-green-debate-on-christmas-trees-fresh-vs-fake/2011/12/07/gIQAk3mLjO_story.html

http://environment.about.com/od/greenchristmas/a/christmas_trees.htm

http://boston.cbslocal.com/2011/12/09/real-or-fake-christmas-trees-whats-better-for-the-environment/

http://www.christmastree.org/debate.cfm