There are many opinions as to which is better, but the arbor day foundation feels it is more environmentally sound to use real trees instead of artificial.
They recommend using real trees either from forest thinnings or - more commonly - grown for the purpose. According to statistics, 85% of artificial trees begin in overseas factories where working conditions are less than ideal. Also, they are made with metals and plastics that sometimes include PVC or lead, and they end up in landfills. Their stance on supporting the traditional Christmas tree industry is based on many reasons, including the fact the Christmas trees that come from farms:
- are a renewable, sustainable resource
- provide jobs in rural areas and support American families
- provide the usual benefits of trees, including oxygen, CO2 uptake, erosion control, and wildlife habitat
- help to preserve open space
- are biodegradable and recyclable; they can be made into chips or compost, or used for conservation purposes such as filling eroding gullies or sunk in lakes to provide better fish habitat.
Just a thought for this upcoming holiday season.
