Are real Christmas trees more eco-friendly than fake ones? (2024)

FAQs

Are real Christmas trees more eco-friendly than fake ones? ›

Short answer—real! Real trees help fight climate change, and even though your Christmas tree is cut down, you're actually supporting forests.

Yes, real Christmas trees are more eco-friendly and a better choice for the environment. It may feel counter-intuitive, but it's much more sustainable to cut down a real tree each year.

Artificial trees offer ease of setup, require minimal maintenance, and can be reused for multiple holiday seasons, saving time and effort in the long run. Authenticity: On the other hand, if you prioritize authenticity and the traditional holiday experience, a real Christmas tree may be more appealing.

Real Christmas trees are three times more likely to be involved in a Christmas tree fire, compared to artificial trees. But that doesn't mean artificial trees can't catch fire.

Real trees are a renewable, recyclable resource. There are more than 4,000 local Christmas tree recycling programs throughout the U.S. For every Christmas tree harvested, one to three seedlings are planted the following spring. There are about 350,000 acres of Christmas trees growing in the U.S.

While many people start decorating on November 1st, even the freshest-cut trees aren't made to last forever. A healthy, fresh-cut Christmas tree will last for four to five weeks if properly cared for.

Real Christmas Trees

Beyond converting carbon dioxide into breathable oxygen, Christmas trees filter water, reduce runoff and potential flooding, and provide homes, food and protection for wildlife.

Real trees are good for the environment

While growing, they're absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen, stabilizing soil and providing habitats for wildlife. As trees are harvested, new trees are planted to take their place. And unlike artificial trees, real trees can often be purchased from local farms.

Picking out a real tree is an experience the whole family can enjoy. 1 acre of Christmas trees provides enough oxygen for 18 people every day. Supports small tree farms in the USA. Environmentally friendly and recyclable (Learn how to recycle your tree at Earth911.org)

Real trees are natural, renewable, recyclable products that provide endless benefits to the environment. While growing, trees help keep the air clean and they provide wildlife habitat. And when the holiday season is over, they can be easily recycled into products like mulch that continue to benefit nature. Scent-sible.

Are fake Christmas trees safe for kids? ›

Exposure to phthalates in these forms is associated with diabetes, obesity, and reproductive disorders. It is particularly dangerous for the development of children's brains and may cause permanent cognitive impairment, autistic behaviors, and ADHD. PVC is also often treated with lead as a stabilizer.

Artificial trees are an environmentally friendly choice. Real trees require many resources, such as water, pesticides, and fertilizers. Many are shipped long distances, adding to their carbon footprint. Artificial trees can be reused for many years, reducing landfill waste.

As some tree species are non-native in certain regions, the massive use of water, herbicides, pesticide and fungicides to make Christmas trees grow efficiently damages the surrounding ecosystem. A human-induced plantation may also incur severe environmental imbalances and even natural disasters.

Most varieties of dry, living plants and trees can be flammable, but Christmas trees are the biggest fire risk each year. ABC News recently published an article titled “Nearly 160 fires per year started by Christmas trees, report claims”.

“The best thing you can do at Christmas is to keep your tree alive and breathing as it will naturally absorb CO2 and release oxygen. So potted trees are the most sustainable option, but they need looking after,” says Anja-Lea Fischer, Global Head Operational Sustainability at Zurich Insurance Group.

Artificial tree, after production

From the retailer, the customer takes the artificial Christmas tree home in a passenger vehicle. When the artificial tree's life is over, it is taken to a landfill where it takes 500+ years to decompose.

Toxic Chemicals in Artificial Christmas Trees

PVC is a major source of phthalates, one of the better known endocrine disrupting chemicals (they upset how hormones are made and distributed throughout our bodies). It's used to softens plastic (think soft pine needles), but has many known negative health impacts.

Ikea are one of the few options that have truly non toxic Christmas trees. As they are made from PET plastic rather than toxic PVC they are a safer Christmas tree option. They also don't contain flame retardants which we really love.