The short answer to this is – yes. The carbon footprint of an artificial tree can be more than ten times higher than that of a real one [1]. BUT, if at first glance natural trees seem the most environmentally friendly option, don’t despair if you’ve already got an artificial tree and are wondering whether to throw it away in favour of real ones. It might be better to hang on to it…
There seems to be no clear cut answer as to whether an artificial tree is better or worse for the environment than a natural one, because artificial trees can be used again, so that the high carbon footprint of the initial year of purchase is not repeated in subsequent years. And of course both industries will claim their product is best. Plus there are other, non-environmental, factors to consider and personal needs and preferences are of course important.
Environmental aspects to consider:
Natural trees
Pros
- Trees themselves are carbon neutral – any CO2 they release as they decay or burn was removed from the atmosphere beforehand as they grew
- They are grown specifically for this purpose, so each tree that is cut down is replaced to replenish the crop
- There are many Christmas tree farms around the UK, so you don’t have to buy an imported one
- They don’t require use of energy to manufacture artificial components
- It is now possible to buy them online, saving long journeys to pick one up
- Many local authorities offer recycling facilities for Christmas trees, which can be checked online [2]
- If they are potted, they can be put outside and may be reusable for another year (but they will need to be acclimatised before and after being put up indoors [3] and properly cared for). The Royal Horticultural Society has advice [4]
Cons
- Some people don’t like the thought of cutting down a living tree
- They can require several pints of water per day [3] to prevent them from drying out and becoming a fire hazard, or dropping needles, depending on the type (one pint is approximately half a litre)
- Unless they’re organic, they may have been grown using a lot of pesticides and fertiliser
- The seed may have been sourced from other parts of the world, increasing associated transport emissions
- You might have to travel quite a long way to get one, particularly if you want to choose and cut your own and make sure it’s been grown organically
- Many real Christmas trees end up in landfill, even in areas with available recycling facilities [5]
Artificial trees
Pros
- They are reusable so any energy used in making, transporting and collecting them is a one-off expenditure
- Good quality trees can last for many years
- They don’t need watering or cleaning up after
- They are more readily available than real trees, potentially saving on transport costs
- They are also available to order online, which is easier than with real trees as each type will be manufactured uniformly
- They do not need to be disposed of each year
Cons
- They are made using various chemicals and require a lot of energy and (often non-renewable) resources to manufacture – according to the Forestry Commission, ten times as much material and five times more energy than real trees [6]
- They are usually produced in far away countries such as China, so will have incurred high energy use to transport them
- When they are thrown away, they are not recyclable as they are mostly made of polyvinylchloride (PVC)
- They are not compostable like natural trees
So, if you already have an artificial tree which can still be used, don’t throw it away. The average life of an artificial tree (in North America) has been reported as six years [7], but they can last far longer if they are good-quality and well cared for, reducing their average environmental impact per year. Some trees come with integrated fibre-optic lights, so it is possible that the short average life of artificial trees is due in part to this type of tree being replaced when the fibre-optics fail. However, they are often not really noticeable when they are not on, so the tree could be kept and decorated with LED fairy lights instead. Either way, if you’ve already bought the tree make it last as long as possible!
However, if you are able to buy a local, organically-grown real Christmas tree and don’t already own an artificial tree, then this the better option. Just don’t put it into landfill when it’s finished with! Unlike artificial trees, most of the cons listed above for real trees can be avoided by choosing and disposing of your tree carefully. If you can’t put it outside to try and keep for next year, think about composting it yourself (take off any foliage you could use for other things, and shred it before you put it on the compost heap [8]) or see if your local council can recycle it. The Forestry Commission has centres in different parts of the country which sell UK grown, well-managed trees – check their website to see if there’s one nearby [6] or try the British Christmas Tree Growers Association [9].
Essentially, the choice between a natural or an artificial tree is a personal one, and will be influenced by many factors. In terms of minimising environmental impact, whichever type of tree you choose, what you do with it and how you eventually dispose of it are highly important considerations.
[2] http://www.recycling.co.uk/christmas-trees
[3] http://www.blueworldgardener.co.uk/xmas/christmas_gardening_christmas_tree_replanting.html
[4] http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/Profile.aspx?pid=374
[5] http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/ethicallivingblog/2008/jan/07/spareathoughtfor
[6] http://www.forestry.gov.uk/christmas
[7] http://www.ellipsos.ca/site_files/File/Christmas%20Tree%20LCA%20-%20ellipsos.pdf
[8] http://www.ehow.com/how_2004035_recycle-christmas-tree.html
[9] http://www.christmastree.org.uk/tga/
