It may seem obvious that an artificial Christmas tree you use for decades is better for the environment than chopping down a real tree every year, but it's not that simple being green.
Real trees involve negatives, point out environmentalists Jason Curran, spokesperson for the David Suzuki Foundation, and Adria Vasil, author of Ecoholic (Random House, 2007): tree plantations are sprayed with pesticides, and wildlife can be disturbed with each harvest.
Yet real trees are also biodegradable (that artificial tree can clog a landfill for centuries), make oxygen and are a renewable crop, says the Ontario Forestry Association, while fake trees burn fossil fuels during manufacturing.
Looking for more ways to make it a green Christmas? Get 10 tips for making it an Earth-friendly holiday.
