December 7, 2013 | SharkAdmin It’s that season again, folks. Holiday time. Food, friends, family, festivities and for some, this season includes setting up a holiday tree. In sustainability circles, there’s debate about which is the correct choice from an environmental standpoint: a real tree or an artificial tree? While there is no completely right answer, here is some information to help you weigh the pros and cons of each of those choices. I’ve thrown in a few more options for those of you really ready to take a leap from the holiday norm. According to the National Christmas Tree Association, nearly 29 million households will choose a real, fresh tree this year. While this may seem like the greener choice, you also need to consider how and where the trees are raised to know how sustainable a choice it may be. Most Christmas trees are now raised on established farms, meaning deforestation is not an issue, but they still must be shipped, often from long distances, they often require pesticides (yuck) and there are fueled vehicles to maintain for shipping. Additionally, one needs to consider that these trees may end up taking up space in landfills if they aren’t composted. Although, roughly 70% of Americans choose artificial trees as the centerpiece for their holiday traditions, these trees aren’t the perfect answer to this dilemma either. Most artificial Christmas trees are made in China, typically from oil-derived, polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Once finally disposed of, artificial trees will take centuries to break down in landfills and even then, if they are made with pollution releasing PVC, those toxins will leach into the soil. So, while a one-time purchase artificial Christmas tree that is kept by a family for many years may eventually redeem itself in oil savings of what it costs to produce and ship it in the first place, it will still eventually end up in the landfill. More often though, people upgrade to fancier, bigger artificial trees or discard an old tree before its time because the branches are bent or broken, so even though an artificial tree could have many years of use, few families keep it for long, because they upgrade. So then, what’s the greenest tree? Well, there’s no perfect answer; you have to choose what works best for you and your family. But consider this: if you choose to go with a real tree, try to choose something that has been locally and organically grown. By doing so you’ll cut down on CO2 emissions and prevent the environmental degradation wrought by pesticides on big conventional operations. When you are done with the tree, be sure to dispose of it properly so that it is mulched or composted back to the earth. If you decide an artificial tree is the right answer for you and your family, then try to find one made in the U.S., decreasing the chances for contamination with lead and other toxins. By buying one that is made in the U.S., you also help to preserve domestic manufacturing jobs and reduce shipping. When you are done with your artificial tree, check with local charities, shelters and churches to see if they can use it instead of sending it to the landfill. Most recycling programs do not accept artificial trees and again, they take centuries to degrade in landfills. What seems to be the greenest of options if you just must PURCHASE a holiday tree, is a plantable “bulb” tree. You can enjoy the tree inside your home decorated for the season, and after the holidays, it can be transplanted outdoors. You will not only add to the planets green space and fight global warming, but you will also provide wildlife habitat. If you don’t have a yard or space to plant it then you can donate it to someplace that does in your community: a church, school or daycare center are all possible options worth checking into. Additionally, in a few years you may be glad you purchased a plantable tree now. In the next six to 10 years, it is predicted that holiday trees will become more scarce and more expensive. We can thank overall climate change that has produce heat waves and flash floods for this impending scarcity. Due to extreme weather, Christmas tree growers lost more than half their farms over recent years and they are deciding not to plant new crops. What this means is, we still have a few years of tree crops to come because there are still trees maturing on these farms that were planted years ago, but once those are chopped down and trucked to our living rooms, that may be it, because many are not being replanted. It has become too risky and costly of an investment for farmers. For those of you really ready to break with the norms, you can simply decorate an existing tree outdoors in your yard for Christmas. Decorating a tree that is close to a window can still set a festive and bright mood in your home. The added bonus is that you don’t have dropped pine needles, or in the instance of an artificial tree, you don’t have dust and other particles from the tree floating around in your home. You could also get creative and fashion a tree-like centerpiece for your holidays from fallen branches and greenery from your yard. Place the branches with greenery in a tall stand or floor vase meant to hold and balance taller arrangements. Be abstract and think outside the box for this one…it doesn’t have to be tree shaped and doesn’t even have to be the color green to be festive. Use your imagination and go wild…literally! Whether you decide to purchase a real or an artificial tree, or just to decorate an existing one, may you have the “greenest” and safest of holiday seasons! Contributed by NVC Staffer Sabrina Carey
