It’s time to tackle one of the eternal debates of the end-of-year holidays: which ones are the most ecological, real trees or their fake counterparts?

If you ask Tim O’Connor, executive director of the National Christmas Tree Associationthe answer is obvious.

“I think it goes without saying that real Christmas trees are far superior for the environment,” he said. “Let’s just start with a natural product versus a product made from petroleum.”

Of course, O’Connor’s organization represents Christmas tree growers. Here’s what the studies and environmentalists say.

Studies

The most recent American analysis on the issue dates from 2018, when a life cycle analysis — measure the environmental impact of real and fake trees during their production until their disposal — was published. (It should be noted the study was carried out by a consulting firm hired by the American Christmas Tree Associationwhich represents the artificial tree industry.)

The analysis took into account things like netting around real Christmas trees and water used to keep them alive in homes, compared to plastic packing tape used on fake tree crates and to the transportation of manufacturers in China.

It concluded that artificial trees have a more favorable effect on the environment if they are reused for at least five years.

It’s worth noting, however, that with all these variables, the study indicates that transportation accounts for about 15 percent of the total global warming potential for artificial Christmas trees and 10 to 12 percent for real ones. So if that tree farm or big box store is a long drive away, that can really influence things.

“Neither a farm-grown tree nor a fake tree has a very significant environmental impact compared to some everyday activities like traveling long distances in a gas-powered car,” said Mac Harman, CEO of Balsam Hill, which manufactures high-end fake trees. trees and offers a range of eco-friendly trees made from recycled plastics and plant-based plastic. “A long drive could be the impact of having a Christmas tree for a year.”

Environmentalists, meanwhile, suggest that studies should not be the only evidence consumers consider.

“Studies can really vary on any topic depending on who is funding the study, what metrics they look at, what elements are most important, or are they just looking at carbon impacts? Are they looking at other resource impacts Are they considering extraction? Are they considering eliminating them,” said Darby Hoover of the Natural Resources Defense Council.

A man and child look at artificial Christmas trees on display at a Home Depot in Miami in 2021.

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Joe Raedle/Getty Images

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An environmentalist’s perspective

Several environmental groups have entered the debate and, for many of them, real trees are winning.

“For me, it’s not just about carbon,” Hoover said. “One of the characteristics of artificial trees is that they are made almost entirely of plastic. And by far the most common polymer used to make artificial trees is PVC, polyvinyl chloride, which is a particularly toxic that is toxic during production, use and disposal.

It’s worth noting the end result of both options: if real trees end up in a landfill and don’t decompose, they still store all the carbon they absorbed during their lives. And if they are mulched, they are reused for more ecological purposes. Most artificial trees are not recyclable.

“If (people) want to do what’s best for the environment, if they want to support a family farmer, if they want to have the kind of Christmas experience for their family that is authentic, that includes something “nature rather than something plastic, it’s a pretty simple decision to have a real Christmas tree,” said O’Connor of the Real Christmas Tree Association.

How to be green as a tree for Christmas

Want to go further? Let’s go back to the roots of the tree, as if we let the tree retain its true roots.

The official White House Christmas tree, a 20-foot Fraser fir, is seen at the Cartner Christmas Tree Farm in Newland, North Carolina, on November 13.

“I think the best option is to use a plant that is already a part of your life or that you want to purchase and keep in your life,” Hoover said. “So rather than buying a plant that’s going to be cut down, why not reuse a tree that’s already on your property or a really fancy potted plant that’s already in your home? »

And if your wilting snake plant isn’t Christmassy enough for you, there’s another option. There are companies that allow you to rent a living Christmas tree who returns to the nursery once the holidays are over.

And if you already have a fake tree, keep using it. Harman of Balsam Hill says he knows people who still have trees since his business started nearly two decades ago.

“It doesn’t make our business any easier to sell more trees when they last so long, but it’s certainly good for the environment,” he said.