which is more environmentally friendly, a real Christmas tree or an artificial one?

Answer 1

Real trees - it's very likely that the grower will subscribe to woodland grant schemes which stipulate replanting and regeneration for each tree felled. The trees (usually sitka spruce for Xmas trees) will most probably be unfertilised and will 'fix' carbon as they grow over 5-7 years, by adding carbon (sourced and obtained in photosynthesis) to their mass. Even if you burn it, the real tree is a totally carbon neutral investment, as burning will only release what has been fixed during growth.

Conversely, the artificial tree involves oil, plastic and metal smelting, so releases lots of pollution and won't decompose for ages.

Answer 2

A real Christmas tree is the most environmentally friendly. The Norway Spruce [the Christmas Tree] is a crop just like any other and is grown in their millions right here in the UK.

The Christmas Tree growers hold a competition each year and the person with the best tree then gets the job of supplying the tree which is then errected outside No.10 Downing Street.

The only benefit of owning an artificial tree, as I do, is that I no longer have to bother about buying an Xmas Tree each year. My artificial tree is about 30 years old and as good as new.

The oldest artificial tree I saw on TV recently, dates from the 1930s and was made of lavatory brushes sprayed green. Still in use and fab looking too.

I plan to be buried with my tree with all it's tinsel etc.

Answer 3

A real tree is more environmentally friendly. Almost all real Christmas trees are grown locally, in a few hundred areas around the UK. Artificial trees are not, they are usually made in the far east, and must be transported halfway around the world for distribution, as against a few tens of miles for a real tree. Thus the carbon footprint alone of an artificial tree is thousands of times that of a real tree. A real tree can be ecologically disposed of by local authority waste processing facilities into wood chips for recycling. Artificial trees go to landfill and take thousands of years to decompose. Real trees contribute to oxygenation and processing of carbond dioxide. Artificial trees do the opposite.

No contest. Real trees win.

Answer 4

There are one or two environmentally "unfriendly" things associated with real Christmas trees, such as the transport to the place of sale. However, real trees can be 100% recycled and give back nutrients to the soil. Additionally, real trees are usually replaced by new ones, which again add to the environment by producing oxygen and reducing carbopn dioxide.

Artificial trees could be seen as environmentally friendly in that the life of a tree will be 20 years plus, barring accidents of course. However, artificial trees are made out of plastic, which is produced from raw materials made out of oil or gas and thus cannot be regarded as friendly to our environment.

In addition, artificial trees cannot be recycled, so they will be either burnt or buried in dumps, where decomposure will take at least 5,000 years. The answer, therefore, is, go for the real Christmas tree every time.

Answer 5

Many people believe an artificial tree is most environmentally friendly but infact it is not an artificial tree from it's production to reaching your house produces far more carbon dioxide than a real tree which is cut down in the UK and will be sold within the UK and travels a much lesser distance and once finished with can be recycled and turned in to bark chippings and compost when an artificial tree is finished with it can take thousands of years to decompose but can be used over and over again meaning overall it is cheaper

Answer 6

Buy a real tree, but one who has full roots in tact in a burlap sack. Make sure to keep the root nourished while using it as a Christmas tree. After the holidays, call your city council, schools etc. and ask them if they have new development sites that you could possibly donate the tree to. This way 1) you have saved the tree from certain saw death 2) You are re-planting the tree 3) You are insuring that it is enjoyed by others in a setting where there was previously no tree. 3) Visit your tree with the kids every year. Make sure they know that even the smallest of choices/changes can have a big impact on this planet. They will see this as the tree grows, and grows.....

Answer 7

Depends on how long you keep the artificial one or how you dispose of the real tree.

The benefit of a real tree is that it can decompose. After a few years, the tree contributes nutrients to the ground. But if you just throw the tree in the dump, the tree contributes nutrients into the trash. Yeeesh!

Now with an artificial tree, you can keep it for many years. Lets say that you pass the tree down through generations. You will be preventing waste. But if you get a new one every other year, well, obviously that decision will not be environmentally friendly.

Answer 8

Artificial trees could be seen as environmentally friendly in that the life of a tree will be 20 years plus, barring accidents of course. However, artificial trees are made out of plastic, which is produced from raw materials made out of oil or gas and thus cannot be regarded as friendly to our environment.

Answer 9

I suppose they're both as environmentally UNfriendly as each other.
It may be stupid to uproot a beautiful tree every year just for a family to put presents around, but artificial trees are usually made of plastic, which comes from a rapidly diminishing raw material called crude oil.
The best thing to do, I believe, would be to buy a real christmas tree, and when you want to take it down, just replant it in your garden, or a friend's garden if you don't have one.

I hope this answers your question.

Answer 10

You should have a real tree from a sustainable source.This can then be taken to the local council recycling site and be composted after Christmas.Even better is a tree with a root ball that you can plant afterwards. An artificial tree once broken or replaced will sit in the landfill for approx 500 years.