{"id":45179,"date":"2020-12-15T10:28:48","date_gmt":"2020-12-15T15:28:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/?p=45179"},"modified":"2022-12-12T16:08:33","modified_gmt":"2022-12-12T21:08:33","slug":"cant-decide-on-a-real-vs-fake-christmas-tree-try-one-of-these-eco-friendly-options","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/canada\/en\/story\/45179\/cant-decide-on-a-real-vs-fake-christmas-tree-try-one-of-these-eco-friendly-options\/","title":{"rendered":"Can\u2019t decide on a real vs. fake Christmas tree? Try one of these eco-friendly options"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Alongside zero waste wrapping<\/strong><\/a>, we can now add \u2018the great tree debate\u2019 to the list of viral Holiday eco-trends worth unpacking: which is more sustainable, a real tree or a fake tree<\/strong> (or as my daughter likes to call them, FAKEmas trees)?<\/p>\n\n

The truth is, they may both have their drawbacks and their benefits, according to the research that\u2019s been conducted on the environmental impacts of each.<\/p>\n\n

While we might think of real trees<\/strong> as more sustainable because they suck up carbon dioxide and are compostable at the end of their use, when you look at the big picture, things start to get more complicated. Christmas tree farms can displace biodiverse natural ecosystems and, according to research conducted by Ellipsos<\/strong><\/a>, there is some debate around whether trees absorb more carbon than they release in their first 20 years of life (Holiday trees are generally cut down in their teenage years, so don\u2019t reach their ultimate carbon absorbing old-growth potential<\/strong><\/a>). Many commercial Christmas tree operations also use pesticides – some of which are even banned for use in gardening.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n

And while getting a permit<\/strong><\/a> to chop down a tree in the Canadian wilderness sounds nostalgic, there may be repercussions for unsuspecting wildlife – like this northern saw-whet owl who went viral<\/strong><\/a> last month after the tree he was chillin\u2019 in got chopped and dragged from Oneonta to New York City. The owl was unharmed, but frankly this is not a death stare I\u2019m willing to mess with.<\/p>\n\n

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death. stare. from CBC.com<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Fake trees<\/strong>, on the other hand, are often made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which is one of the naughtiest plastics<\/strong><\/a> on the plastics list and pollutes across its entire lifespan, from production to end of life. Trees made from PVC are difficult to recycle and so end up going to landfill<\/strong><\/a> where they release more greenhouse gases and pollute ecosystems by leaching dangerous chemicals. They are also usually made in factories overseas and the GHG emissions associated with shipping increases their carbon footprint.<\/p>\n\n

For those wanting to escape the fake vs real dichotomy, here are some other eco-friendly options:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

1) Make your own <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n

Feeling crafty? Mix some creativity into the festivities this year and make your own tree out of upcycled materials (remember, the most sustainable item is the one that already exists. So the more reuse you can incorporate, the merrier for the planet!). This DIY cardboard Christmas tree from Makedo<\/strong><\/a> gives you a variety of options for how to decorate the finished product – you could make a traditional Christmas tree design or have cutouts with different coloured lights inside for a modern look.<\/p>\n\n

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via Makedo, PDF instructions<\/strong><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Here are a few other ideas to get your creativity flowing:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n