Christmas trees: is real or fake the more environmentally friendly option?
Lots of people were out buying Christmas, er, holiday trees this past weekend.
If you're still wondering whether real or fake trees are better for the environment, UBC silviculturist Bruce Larson has an answer for you.
On UBC News, the university's PR site, Larson says in a Q&A:
Many artificial trees come from a variety of products, including recycled material that then can be recycled again. There are even artificial trees made from wood products. It’s not just PVC plastic anymore.
Even so, it comes down to real. Artificial tree producers cite a break-even point, from an ecological standpoint, of about 10 years. But very few people keep their trees that long. Products change fast, and people want the newest thing.
The most sustainable option is the trend towards potted live trees. Essentially, you rent a potted tree for the season, and then return it. The UBC Forestry Undergraduate Society has these at the UBC Farm Christmas tree lot.
So Larson favours the real tree, especially the potted ones which get to stay alive.
But wouldn't the most sustainable option be no Christmas tree at all? (Written by someone who carried a small Douglas-fir home on Sunday.)
Comments
2 Comments
Beatnuck
Dec 15, 2014 at 3:07pm
The most sustainable option would be a potted tree that gets planted in one's yard. Except for the British Properties, as the residents there don't like trees.
Carlos
Dec 15, 2014 at 3:33pm
I've been planting potted Christmas trees for around 5 years now. Wonderful tradition. Sure your Christmas tree is a little smaller at Christmas, and you need a place for it to live until early spring planting (my balcony works fine), but the reward of walking past the Christmas trees of yesteryear growing up! The first one I planted is now much taller than I am; my first baby is growing up.