This project focuses on both farmland conversion and forest restoration to improve biodiversity habitats in an essential migration corridor for numerous species, most notably the Monarch butterfly.And of course, unlike fake trees, real trees are completely biodegradable and can be used for lumber, turned into mulch, donated to restoration projects, composted and used to fertilize next year’s crop, and more! In short: sustainable Christmas tree farms are both the ethical and sustainable choice: they can be great for the environment and for the people who work and live on them, for whom jobs and income are generated. In fact, many Christmas tree growers utilize steep hillsides that would otherwise be unsuitable for agricultural activities. This rotating cycle ensures that the farmers will have a steady harvest of salable trees every year, but it also provides habitat for wildlife and protects the land from getting used for other purposes. According to the Association of Christmas Tree Growers, for every tree that is cut down each year, 1 to 3 new seedling trees are planted. It takes around 7 years to grow an average-sized Christmas tree, and as trees grow, they absorb carbon and use 10x fewer resources than artificial tree factories. That’s because most small-scale Christmas tree farms are inherently sustainable, leaving certain sections open for harvesting every year, while keeping other areas closed to give younger trees a chance to grow. It may feel counter-intuitive, but it's much more sustainable to cut down a real tree each year. Yes, real Christmas trees are more eco-friendly and a better choice for the environment. And let's be real: the likelihood of them lasting 10 years before breaking or getting thrown out is pretty low.Īre Real Christmas Trees Better For the Environment? In fact, you would have to keep your fake Christmas tree for at least 10 years for it to have the same carbon impact as using a real tree each year - and that isn’t considering the environmental damage artificial trees cause as they slowly break down in a landfill. Often produced and shipped from China, they also have a hefty carbon footprint - to the tune of up to 88lbs of CO2 per artificial tree, which is over 10X higher than that of a sustainably grown, properly recycled real Christmas tree. Because most are made with plastic and metal materials, they take a lot of resources to create - and their plastic components will exist for thousands of years, polluting our oceans and filling the bellies of sea turtles. Are Fake Christmas Trees Bad For the Environment?Īrtificial trees can last many years if well cared for, which seems to make them the obvious sustainable choice, but they do have drawbacks.
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