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