Climate Matters: Which Christmas tree is better for the environment

While many have already gone out for the holidays to get a Christmas tree, some might have considered bringing a live tree in. While these real trees don't produce any plastics or metals they're only usable for one year compared to artificial trees, so which is really better? When shopping for trees longevity isn't the biggest contributor.

The reusability of an artificial tree seems appealing in reducing wastefulness, but the production of these trees offsets this. Up to 88 lbs of CO₂ is emitted to produce a single artificial Christmas tree, ten times the amount for a real one. This means you would have to hold on to that artificial tree for a full decade just to offset the emissions. But this also doesn't account for the plastics and metal that will inevitably be thrown out at the end of the fake tree's lifetime.

Real Christmas trees are comparatively much better for the environment as they're just natural trees! Christmas trees are renewable (most farmers plant multiple seeds for every tree cut) and biodegradable. And while producing a plastic tree emits carbon, real trees suck carbon out of the atmosphere to use for resources and release oxygen.

Christmas trees also have a variety of uses after the holidays are over. They can be turned to mulch, or repurposed for animal habitats. The Missouri Department of Conservation is taking Christmas tree donations at their Central Regional Office through the end of January 2024 to use for fish habitats in lakes and ponds!