A researcher in Australia investigated the carbon footprint of a real cut evergreen versus an artificial tree and found that real Christmas trees are indeed "greener" than artificial trees. Does this end the annual debate? We hope so! The only way for an artificial to be kinder to the environment than a live one is surprising, too.
For an artificial to be kinder to the environment, the researcher says the homeowner must use the same artificial tree for two decades. Two decades! In twenty years, those white and silver artificial trees may be long dated.
"3 kilograms of carbon dioxide is produced in the growing, transportation and disposal of a real tree compared with the 48 kilograms produced in the manufacture of the average artificial tree," the article states. The research was commissioned by the Australian environment minister.
Clint Springer, a biologist at Saint Joseph University in Philadelphia agrees, according to MSNBC. "From a greenhouse gas perspective, real trees are "the obvious choice," Springer says in the article.
Real trees are also often recycled after the holiday, whereas artificial trees end up in the dump more often than not.
"Real Christmas trees greener than the plastic variety," EarthTimes 12/12/09
"Real Christmas trees greener than fake," LiveScience, MSNBC.com 12/10/09
Image: Lindsey Roberts
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Comments (10)
My mother kept her artificial tree for nearly two decades until it fell apart, and my own one is a hand-me-down from my partner's mother which is about 10 years old and looks as good as new. However, if I hadn't been given that one then I would have bought a real one-the UK Forestry Commission sell christmas trees cut down from the forest near me so I'd know it was cut down in a sustainable fashion. I also know somebody who'd love the leftover logs! My parents tried to keep a christmas tree in a pot going for more than one year once (in the garden for the rest of the year) but it died.
Are you actually surprised by this??
You americans are really weird...
I planted a tree this year, to use for the next years, until it's too big to come inside!
Buying (or renting) live trees that can be planted is a better option than either cut trees or artificial trees. There are also some cool eco-friendly modern designs out there like this one: http://possibilitree.com/
Hahha
why is this such a surpirse...buying a plastic one is never green...do we forget that however long we keep it wiht us..some day it is going to be in the landfill or the garbage and choke the planet....so does it make any sense at all trying to even compare both?
Ugg.
I am sooooo sick of people thinking that "plastic = ungreen" without considering ALL the components of what makes something Green or not... transport costs, resources to create, reuse potential, recycling potential. It's not an easy formula, and I am sick of people oversimplifying.
Btw, susrith, a real Christmas tree in a landfill ain't such a great thing, either... so unless your real tree is going into a recycling/mulch program, I think you need to reconsider your very clearcut stance. Plus, there are the resources (energy and fuel) required in a recycling program itself that you need to factor in to your assumptions.
And you also assume all artificial trees are 100% plastic. Again, not true. Most good quality artificials are a combination of steel, aluminum, silk and plastic. And guess what? All those materials, even plastic, can be-- and are frequently-- recycled.
My only point is, Green is not-- and probably will never be-- as black and white as you make it out to be.
Looks like my mom is a winner - I'll be 30 this year and I think she's had her artificial tree longer than I have been alive. Luckily it's a plain green pine tree so it's not kitchy at all!
no comparison between the two..no one claimed that plastic trees were just made of plastic...other material may be a part of it..making green choices is never black and white...real trees being chopped aren't great either...would everyone stop celebrating Christmas completely? It is about making better choices...any plastic ever produced is never going to break down to its original components...(bio degrade)...so any number of years or uses later..it is still going to go to the landfill or land in the ocean as tiny pellets...real trees at least decompose...stop hitting out on people who make green choices...at least they are working their way towards a better tomorrow...seems like many of us are among the "denying global warming" group...
These debates never lead us anywhere...even i could say - UUUUUGGH....but at least we understand there is a different point of view and try putting forth our point rather than indulging in mud slinging
I was not "hitting out" on you or ANYONE who makes green(er) choices. But, sorry, your original post was a common case (and very good example) of total oversimplification. My response to it was hardly "mudslinging," uggh or no uggh.
I disagree, also, that "these debates never lead us anywhere." I've learned lots in these kinds of threads. You just need to be open to the learning.
great to see tht we are open to learning!