The Great Christmas Debate – Fake vs Real?
It’s that time of year again when people must again take a side in a debate that pits friends against friends and even husbands against wives – Do you get a live Christmas tree or an artificial one? And which is better for the environment?
While we’re not about to tell you which tree we think you should choose – that will be up to you, we can offer you some interesting pros and cons about both real and artificial Christmas trees, so hopefully, you’ll be better prepared to make the final decision.
The Pros and Cons for Artificial Trees.
Cost – Given the current economic climate, artificial trees are a one-time expense that may be especially appealing for their investment value when compared with the recurrent, annual expense of a real Christmas tree.
Convenience – They don’t need watering, don’t leave pine needles all over the floor and transportation from tree farm to home isn’t an issue.
Guilt – The thought of cutting down a living tree just to decorate the home every year can dampen some people’s spirit.
Non-recyclable – They contain PVC and other plastics, and metals that can’t be recycled are non-biodegradable and end up in landfills for centuries after disposal.
Most are imported – Approximately 85% of the trees sold in North America are imported from China, according to the National Christmas Tree Association, adding to their overall environmental footprint.
The Pros and Cons for Real Trees.
Smell – It’s tough to replicate the aroma that is generated from a real tree in your living room.
Real tree – A real Christmas tree is a real Christmas tree, and you can’t beat that. That’s part of the Christmas spirit.
Recyclable – Of the roughly 33 million trees that are sold in North America, according to the US EPA, 93% of the trees are recycled through local neighborhood recycling programs.
Oxygen production – The 400 or so million trees currently maturing (it takes 7-10 years before a tree is ready to cut) on farms generate oxygen and provide habitat for birds and animals, as well as preserve acres of farmland and green space from urban development.
Absorbing CO2 – A single farmed tree absorbs more than 1 ton of CO2 throughout its lifetime. So you can imagine the yearly amount of carbon sequestering associated with the trees.
Use of Pesticides – They are farmed as agricultural products, meaning repeated applications of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers may be used throughout their lifetime.
Transport – For climates where coniferous trees don’t grow, that tree in your living room may have had to travel hundreds of miles to reach the lot, significantly impacting the environmental impact associated with travel.
For every 50 people who say, “I always get a real tree because I think it’s great for the environment,” there are 50 people who say, “I have an artificial tree because I think it’s great for the environment”. In the end we say “Everyone’s right”! What do you think?
We are leaders in constantly inventing and refining new ways, new facilities and new technologies to allow us to better serve our clients, when it comes to buying and selling homes. From our own distinctive visual identity to highly interactive and user-friendly websites, we embrace change – but never change for change’s sake.
To learn more about Virani Real Estate Advisors or to discuss a property, email us at [email protected], visit one of our offices, or call 604-913-1000.