When you’re shopping for a Christmas tree, you’ll quickly notice that there are two options: real and artificial. Real trees are pretty much what they sound like — they’re living plants that stay fresh throughout the holiday season. They can be decorated with ornaments and tinsel, but after the holidays are over, you have to take them apart and return them to nature (or find someone willing to take them off your hands).
Artificial trees offer plenty of advantages over natural ones. Here are just a few
They don’t require water or fertilizers. Because artificial trees aren’t living organisms, they don’t need any special care; just set them up and enjoy them for years to come.
They don’t cause allergies or asthma symptoms in people who live with them. Real Christmas trees can irritate allergies and asthma symptoms because of their dust particles (especially if they’re not dried properly after being taken down). Artificial Christmas trees don’t have any dust particles at all.
They’re easier to store than real ones. Artificial trees can be folded up like umbrellas when they’re not in use; real trees need a lot more space when they’re not being displayed during the holidays.
Artificial trees are made from materials that are recycled and recyclable. They do not shed needles, they don’t have to be watered, and they can be reused year after year.
Artificial Christmas trees are made from materials that are recycled and recyclable. They do not shed needles, they don’t have to be watered, and they can be reused year after year.
Artificial Christmas trees take much less energy to produce than natural ones; a natural tree takes an average of three months to grow and requires 1,000 gallons of water during its lifetime. The production process for an artificial tree is much quicker — it takes about 10 minutes to assemble one — so less energy goes into making them. Additionally, artificial trees need no maintenance once set up; unlike real trees which will require watering every few days during the holiday season.
Regardless, a plastic Christmas tree is better for the environment than an artificial tree made from PVC.
Plastic trees are made from recycled materials that are often collected as part of a recycling program, so they’re less likely to end up in landfills. If you have to buy new, look for products that are made with recycled plastics.
Because they’re made of plastic and don’t require water or electricity, artificial trees can be reused year after year. It’s estimated that it takes about 50 years for a real Christmas tree to decompose completely when it’s thrown away in a landfill.
Artificial trees don’t require any maintenance once you put them up, which means no more messy pine needles on your carpet and floors. If you use an artificial tree every year, it will help reduce your energy consumption because you won’t have to heat or cool as much space in your home during winter months.