The Dilemma of Real Trees versus Fake Trees

Austin is a city known for being green, with an eco-minded citizenry that consistently demonstrates concern for the natural environment. From biking lanes to reusable shopping bags to protected green spaces rolling along the hills near River Place or behind the quiet streets of Barton Creek – Austin earns its title of an environmental steward. Christmas can be a befuddling time for Austinites who want to celebrate the holiday while maintaining the same standards of eco-stewardship they’ve adopted in other aspects of their lives. The most puzzling question of December is often: is it better to buy a real tree, or an artificial tree?

Below are a few pros and cons of each possibility:

Real Trees:

Pros

Real trees are a renewable, recyclable resource that can be composted and returned to the Earth to biodegrade once the holidays are over.

For every Real Christmas Tree harvested, 1 to 3 seedlings are planted the following spring.

There are about 350,000 acres in production for growing Christmas Trees in the U.S.; much of it preserving green space.

There are close to 15,000 farms growing Christmas Trees in the U.S., and over 100,000 people are employed full or part-time in the industry.

The living trees generate oxygen, help fix carbon in their branches and in the soil and provide habitat for birds and animals. An acre of Douglas fir trees can absorb over 11,000 lbs of carbon dioxide.

Christmas tree farms also help preserve farmland, particularly near densely populated urban areas where pressure for development is intense. Many farms are located on land that would be unusable for other crops, like hillsides, providing increased income for farmers.

Real trees are harvested in the US, so their journey to the sales tent is much shorter than a fake tree’s journey from overseas.

Cons

Some trees must be trucked hundreds or thousands of miles to make it to a state that is not suitable for growing Christmas trees.

Christmas tree farms may use pesticides and chemicals for pest control and to speed growth.

Real trees can cost much more than artificial trees, and are not reusable after a single use.

Real trees that dry out have been known to cause fires due to contact with decorative lights.

Artificial Trees:

Pros

Artificial trees can cost significantly less than a real tree, and are reusable for many years.

Artificial trees come in a wide range of shapes, sizes, and heights to accommodate any size living space, from a sweeping showcase spot in front of a picture window in an Austin luxury home, down to a comfortable corner in a modest house. The trees also can be bought in different colors and styles.

Having an artificial tree saves a live tree from being cut down.

Cons

85% of artificial trees are imported from China, meaning the majority of the money spent on the trees does not stay in the US.

Artificial trees must travel thousands of miles to reach American stores, causing many carbons to be released into the air from transporting vehicles.

Artificial trees were originally designed by the Addis Brush Company, which manufactured toilet brushes. Thus, the ancestor of artificial trees is a device for scrubbing commodes.

Artificial trees, even if labeled flame retardant, can still become engulfed in flames should an electrical fire begin from an overloaded outlet or other source. When burned, the plastic in the trees can release toxic gasses.

Many fake trees contain PVC in the plastic, a toxic chemical that is released during manufacturing and is possibly transferable to those who come in contact with an item containing it.

Artificial trees cannot be recycled, and must be added to a landfill at the end of their life span.

Austin has ample selection for both real and artificial trees every year. The most environmentally friendly option could be to buy a live, potted tree, if you are a homeowner with a yard where the tree can be planted at the end of the season. If you are interested in starting a new Austin home search and owning your own green space to plant trees or a garden, contact an Austin realtor today.