Now that Halloween is done, it's safe to say that people are going to start decorating for the holidays. This leads to the common debate - "Should I buy a real tree or a fake one this year?"
My goal is to promote a sustainable lifestyle for the planet. That being said, if you have a fake tree already, you should definitely continue to reuse it for as long as possible because the most sustainable thing you can do is to reuse what you have. But if you don't have a tree, if you've recently moved and don't know what you should do this year - well then this post will hopefully help you make a decision.
Fake Tree
Most people would argue that a fake tree is better for the environment than a real one, simply because it can be reused infintely. In terms of a carbon footprint impact, this is true if the tree is kept for 20 years or longer. The problem with this option is the end life. A fake tree is made of plastic, and a plastic (PVC) that cannot be recycled. This means that even if you keep it for 50 years, it will eventually end up in a landfill and it will release tons of emissions, while it decomposes very very slowly.
It will release methane gas which is way worse than carbon dioxide. In addition, plastic is made from oil, which is a natural resource that we are already overusing and a huge carbon emmitter. Therefore, in terms of carbon emissions, a 6.5 ft tall fake tree will have a carbon footprint of approximately 40kg. You can however reduce this number by purchasing a used tree at a charity shop.
Real Tree
A real tree can be sustainable if you purchase a locally farmed one. If the tree is coming from somewhere far away, the carbon impact of transporting it to you can potentially be larger than a fake one. Some may say that by cutting down a real tree, we are losing a carbon reducer. Although this is true in the long term, they cut down the tree years before it starts sucking out the carbon from the air. In addition, it is grown in a nursery or farm land and not cut down in a forest which is better for the environment.
If the tree is disposed of by landfill, it will likely emit 16kg of carbon dioxide so you may want to check with your local government with what they do with the trees afterwards. If the wood is converted to wood chippings, there may be virtually no carbon impact. Another way to reduce your impact temporarily would be to buy "ugly" trees - ones that will likely not get purchased by others because they aren't "perfect". This will stop them from getting disposed of too quickly.
Other options?
Of course there are other ways to reduce your impact:
- Make your own tree! You can use recycled materials and create trees like the ones shown here or be creative and use whatever you can to make your own.
- Grow your own! If you own a property, you can easily grow these trees in your front yard and decorate them around Christmas time. You can also pot them outside and then bring them indoors during the christmas holiday and put them back outside after.
In conclusion, if you want to reduce your impact, you should try to be creative and use what you can. Take a look at your recycle bin and find ways to upcycle the items. If you really want a big tree, choose a local real one that gets disposed into wood chippings.
By: Bianca Deltorto-Russell
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