The holiday season is a time of joy, celebration, and reflection. It is also a hectic time of year and figuring out ways to simplify is always a plus. How can we simplify the selection of a Christmas tree? Real Christmas trees are usually grown locally, smell so good, look beautiful, and are compostable. But they are difficult to transport, set up, and can potentially irritate those with allergies. Artificial trees can be easier to set up and less messy but are made of materials derived from petroleum.
The American Christmas Tree Association (ACTA) carried out a comparative life-cycle-analysis (LCA) of artificial Christmas trees and real Christmas trees. A Life-Cycle-Analysis (LCA) is a systematic method to evaluate the environmental impact of a product, from the extraction of raw materials to manufacturing, usage and final disposal. The LCA concluded that a real Christmas tree generates fewer environmental impacts than an artificial Christmas tree. But the study also concludes that the environmental impacts are equivalent if the artificial tree is used for at least five years.
Other potential hazards associated with Christmas trees include fire and chemical exposure hazards. To reduce fire hazards associated with real Christmas trees it is important to keep the tree from drying out. To do this the bottom should be fresh cut before placing it into the water and check the tree stand water level often to be sure it is full.
For artificial Christmas trees look for the “UL” mark indicating that the tree is certified to be safe from electrical and fire hazards.
Artificial trees are often made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) which is derived from petroleum. PVC creates toxic pollution during manufacturing and can be hazardous to workers. PVC is often associated with additional chemicals such as lead and phthalates. An option is to choose an artificial tree that is made from PET plastic rather than PVC. PET is 100% recyclable, but is still derived from petroleum products.
Some tree farms treat their trees with pesticides and fire retardants. When buying a real tree look for certified sustainably farmed trees. These trees are grown using sustainable practices. When a tree is cut down it is replaced with a new seedling. Best practices are used for water and soil conservation, wetland management, integrated pest management, and biodiversity.