Real vs. Fake Christmas Trees
Real Trees
Place Of Origin
- United States & Canada
Method Of Production
- Farming
- Planting takes place jan-may
- Estimated 40-45 million trees planted in 2008 in north america
- Estimated 446 million trees growing on farms in u.s. and canada.
- Tree farms support complex eco-systems
Components
- Plant tissue
- 100% biodegradable
PVC free?
- Yes
Lead free?
- Yes
Carbon Neutral?
- Yes
- Trees absorb carbon dioxide
- When decomposing, carbon, nitrogen and other elements are released into soil
Chemicals?
- No
- Scientists have measured cut christmas trees for chemical residue and not found any significant amounts
- Many different bugs, fungi and parasites can attack and kill trees, so farmers may use pesticides to keep consumers’ trees healthy and alive until harvest
- Most pesticides are ground applied
- Herbicides are used to suppress, not kill off, weeds to prevent soil erosion
- If someone tells you “there are chemicals on cut christmas trees” they are wrong
Disposal
- Recycled
- Used trees can be recycled in a variety of ways
- Decomposing trees add nutrients back into the earth
Renewable Resource?
- Yes
- New trees are planted every year
Eco-friendly?
- Yes
- Source : national christmas tree association
Artificial Trees
Place Of Origin
- 85% from china
Method Of Production
- Factory
- Raw materials sent to factory & assembled into final product
- Number of factories unknown
- Factories only consume natural resources
Components
- Plastics and metals
- Non-biodegradable
PVC free?
- No
Lead free?
- No (lead is used in the process of making PVC plastic)
Carbon Neutral?
- No
- Plastic is a petroleum by product
Chemicals?
- Yes
- PVC itself is a dangerous chemical
- Manufacture of PVC creates and disperses dioxins, the most toxic man-made chemical known
- Released into air or water, dioxins enter the food chain, where they accumulate in fatty tissues of animals and humans, a potential risk for causing cancer, damaging immune functions and impairing children’s development
Disposal
- Landfill
- Fake trees can’t be recycled and end up in landfills
- All of the accumulated fake trees are a burden to the environment indefinitely
Renewable Resource?
- No
- Petroleum, used to make plastic, is a non-renewable resource, as are metals
Eco-friendly?
- No