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
  • Product is shipped to US and Canada then distributed to stores
  • 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

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