Every December, millions of Americans decorate their homes with Christmas trees, a centerpiece symbol of holiday cheer. But in recent years, a question for the environmentally conscious has arisen whether to choose between real or artificial.
About 78 percent of all U.S. households display a Christmas tree, and as a growing share of the population tends to weigh its decisions more on impacts to the environment, consumers are left with a choice: real or fake?
As it turns out, the debate has raged for almost two decades, mostly between two warring lobbyist groups: the National Christmas Tree Association (advocating real trees) and the American Christmas Tree Association (advocating fake trees).
By the early 2000s, studies show more than 60 percent of homes were putting up artificial trees, which many speculate was the result of an extensive anti-real tree campaign led by the ACTA. In response, the NCTA launched its own initiative, posturing against the use of artificial trees.
As a result, the two organizations flooded the public sphere with a myriad of confusing, conflicting data. Even today, it’s unclear which type of tree most Americans prefer, with each group touting the favor of the majority for their own.
For instance, just last year, the NCTA said Americans in 2014 bought 26.3 million real trees and 13.9 million fake trees.
By comparison, the ACTA said in U.S. households, 81 percent were artificial and only 19 percent were real trees.
Regardless, the decision to buy real or fake, many researchers say, has very little comparable difference when it comes to adverse effects on the environment. Both types have drawbacks, and in most cases, it’s a choice left to families.
Fake
Pro: The argument for artificial trees lies in the fact the product is cheap, convenient and reusable. Many trees are sold already adorned with lights and ornaments, which makes the holiday rush just a little bit less chaotic.
From an environmental standpoint, pro-artificial tree advocates say just 10 years of use offsets impacts from farm-grown trees. The other side contends that number is closer to 20 years.
Con: The case against fake trees revolves around the impact its production takes. The U.S. Department of Commerce estimated 80 percent of all artificial trees are imported from China, and that means more greenhouse gas emissions in transportation and fewer U.S. jobs.
And when the tree has reached its shelf life, most end up in a landfill, a non-biodegradable material. In 2010, the New York Times cited a study that found fake trees contain PVC, which can produce carcinogens during its manufacturing and disposal linked to cancer.
Real
Pro: Proponents of real trees cite the fact that most trees are raised and sold locally, and that supports regional farmers, and it creates more trees in the area to soak up carbon emissions. And, as opposed to artificial trees, real trees can be composted or mulched after the holiday season.
Con: The downside, adversaries say, is that farmers use an exuberant amount of water, as well as dangerous levels of pesticides that enter waterways and pose a threat to wildlife, to grow a healthy crop. However, a recent study from the North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension found farmers use a negligible amount of pesticides each year.
Of course, both sides disagree on the nuisances of any one of these arguments. Perhaps Jean-Sebastien Trudel, a Montreal researcher on the topic who did not respond to The Durango Herald’s request for comment, summed it up best in the same 2010 Time article:
“When you really consider it, if you exchange a couple of days of commuting by car with carpooling or riding a bicycle, you’ll completely overcompensate for whatever the impact of the tree is,” he said. “It’s not such a big deal. Enjoy your tree, whichever one you prefer.”
One choice missing from the conversation is the harvesting of trees on your own accord in National Forest land. Permits, running $8 for one tree, are available annually, and may emerge as the best “environmentally conscious” choice for those families who can make it work.
“If people follow the rules on what species to cut and how to cut them, it’s a very healthy exercise on the forest, and we encourage it,” said San Juan National Forest Service spokeswoman Ann Bond, who added about 2,300 permits were issued in 2014. “This is a local tree. This is a native tree.”
Jimbo Buickerood, public lands coordinator for the San Juan Citizens Alliance, said cutting trees in national forests can reduce the threat of wildfires, and that’s good land management. But he also offered one more idea, albeit in a self-admitted Grinch-like playfulness:
“Buy a live tree and plant it in your yard,” he said. “As far as carbon goes, that’s the best option. If it’s capital C for Christmas or capital C for carbon, think about the carbon first.”
jromeo@durangoherald.com
Cutting your own tree
Buy a permit: They’re $8 per tree and can be purchased at San Juan Public Lands Center, 15 Burnett Court, and Kroeger’s Ace Hardware, 8 Town Plaza, in Durango; the Columbine Ranger District, 367 Pearl St. in Bayfield; City Market, 508 East Main Ave., in Cortez; Dolores Ranger District, 29211 Colorado Highway 184, and Dolores Food Market, 400 Railroad Ave., in Dolores; Cox Conoco, 201 East Railroad Ave., in Mancos; and Pagosa Ranger District, 180 Pagosa St., in Pagosa Springs.
Cut these: You’re allowed to cut white fir, subalpine fir or a spruce.
Avoid these: Do not cut Ponderosa pine, Douglas fir or piñon.
Size it: Permits allow you to cut a tree up to 20-feet tall. But not everyone has ceilings that tall; don’t disfigure a tree by cutting off just the top.
Cut it correctly: Leave no more than a 6-inch stump; leave no live branches on the stump.
Tag it: Attach permit to tree, and make sure it’s visible before heading home.
Other rules: Permit-holders cannot cut within 100 feet of a road or developed campground, in wilderness or research areas, and in tree plantation and active timber sale areas.
If you go
There are only two more chances for those who want to ride the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and cut their own Christmas tree.
All this month, the D&SNG has offered to take people up to Cascade Wye, where – with an $8 permit in addition to regular winter train fare – you can cut your own tree while at the same time reduce the risk of forest fire in an at-risk area identified by the San Juan National Forest Service. The train leaves Durango on Fridays and Saturdays.
Volunteers with the San Juan Mountains Association and Firewise of Southwest Colorado will be on hand to help passengers cut and load their trees.
