Real versus fake Christmas trees: Which is more environmentally friendly? The answer isn't as transparent as you might think.

ABC News ^ | December 1, 2023 | Julia Jacob

[DoodleBob]

The typical rules of sustainability do not apply when it comes to choosing the most environmentally friendly Christmas tree.

…

Here is why real Christmas trees are better for the environment than fake trees:

Christmas tree farms help to produce oxygen and sequester carbon

…The tree is then grown for seven to 10 years before it is harvested, and during that time it is sequestering carbon and releasing oxygen….Purchasing at a Christmas tree farm also bolsters the local economy, as most tree farms are family-owned, Chastagner said.

Artificial tree production has a high carbon footprint

…The production of one artificial Christmas tree results in about 88 pounds of carbon dioxide -- an output 10 times higher than that of any sustainably grown real Christmas tree, Rivera said.

…

Real trees are recyclable and biodegradable

…Once an artificial tree hits a landfill, it could take thousands of years or more to break down, adding even more pollutants to landfills and oceans, Rivera said.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Which is more environmentally friendly?

Who cares.

Have what ever makes you and your family happy.

The rest of the world can just go shove off.

[IndyTiger]

Yeah, I’m allergic to pine, so a fake tree was a pretty easy choice. Had the same artificial tree for over thirty years. Downsized to a tabletop tree about five years ago.

[DoodleBob]

Let’s try the reporting a little differently….

Here is why real cars are better for the environment than fake/EV cars:

Purchasing at a real car also bolsters the local economy, as most real car dealerships are family-owned

Fake/EV car production has a high carbon footprint

…The production of one fake/EV car results in about 88 pounds of carbon dioxide — an output 10 times higher than that of any real car
…

Real cars are recyclable and biodegradable

…Once a fake/EV car hits a landfill, it could take thousands of years or more to break down, adding even more pollutants to landfills and oceans.

[dfwgator]

…Once a fake/EV car hits a landfill, it could take thousands of years or more to break down, adding even more pollutants to landfills and oceans.

Once again, The issue is never the issue. The whole point is to make it unfeasible for people to have personal transportation and to force them into "15-Minute Cities".

[John Milner]

In the tradition of FR, I didn’t read the article. Did the author take into account all the petroleum necessary to transport a tree from wherever to the lot to your home and then to wherever it gets disposed of? And that used by the chainsaw to cut it down?

[ridesthemiles]

EXACTLY===Have done so since 1980.

[pjd]

And artificial trees can be reused for decades. They can even be passed on to children.

[AppyPappy]

A pre-lit tree will last about 5 years before the lights give out. My wife used to buy them for her office. I lobbied for an artificial but she said we weren’t old enough yet.

[LilFarmer]

We have several allergic in our home (I’m not sure the dust on the fake tree is much better for them, but anyway…)

I used to accept used live trees for my goats to munch on, but I heard a few years ago that they spray the live trees with chemicals to help them stay green longer, so I stopped taking them, just to be on the safe side. I’m curious if anyone has heard of this?

[Mama Shawna]

My tree is a 3 foot dollar store special my mom bought for me years ago as a joke. I kept it for some unknown reason. In 2020, there was a shortage of real trees, and the ones you could get were astronomically priced. So, I dug out the old dollar store tree, put it up on a stool and decorated it. We all liked it so much we’ve been using it since!

[Codeflier]

Who cares? The only thing I know is that artificial these days is the only way to go for me! So simple with the plug in segments. My latest tree takes me 3 minutes to put up and take down. The lights look great and can be all white, or multi color. Have a special bag for storage.

[Jeff Chandler]

Yes, I always check with ABC before making a purchase.

[gnickgnack2]

I’m on year 30 of a great tree bought at a hardware store closing. Originally purchased for my photo studio. I’ve only ever put up half of it so I can tuck it into a corner and save space.