In the 1950s, America began mass-producing artificial Christmas trees made of aluminum and plastic. They quickly gained popularity, and began the debate over whether fake or real trees are better. After 70 years, this debate continues and causes disagreement every holiday season.
Since the mid-20th century, artificial trees have advanced and many now look exactly like a real tree purchased in a Christmas tree lot. If you are still deciding which type of tree is best, make sure to consider your individual preferences and which would be the most beneficial for your household.
The price of both real and fake trees depends on the size and type. The average tree can vary between $70-$100. Artificial trees can vary from around $100 to as expensive as nearly $10,000 for high-quality false trees with numerous features. In the long run, reusing an artificial tree saves money compared to buying a new, real tree every year. It may take a long time for the most expensive artificial trees to save money, but there are more affordable options that can help you to start saving much faster.
Some people don’t have the time to take their family to a Christmas tree lot and spend hours shopping for the perfect holiday centerpiece year after year. Others look forward to the tradition and opportunity to bond as a family. It is undeniably difficult to tie a tree to the roof of a car, haul it through the front door, make sure it fits properly, water the tree daily, and string lights on it. Some families prefer to assemble their trees from a box in a few minutes because it saves time and effort.
Along with the ease of assembly, it is also much easier to care for an artificial tree. No watering or trimming means more time to focus on other holiday preparations, but for many, it is not as rewarding as finding and caring for a real tree.
With fake trees, much fewer pine needles are constantly falling on the floor. However, artificial trees lack the unique scent of a real Christmas tree. When lit, it can be difficult to tell the difference between a good-quality artificial and a real tree. When ordering an artificial tree online, one can choose from a variety of options with exact measurements, ensuring that it fits in the desired room. It can be ordered with thicker, thinner, fuller, or more sparse branches that mimic those of real trees. Some trees come pre-lit with different display options, sometimes even including light shows. If someone is not willing to spend a lot of money on a nice fake tree, it could be a lot more obvious that it is not real when it isn’t of higher quality.
Real or fake, no Christmas tree is great for the environment. The impact that any Christmas tree has on the earth depends on how it is disposed of. According to Earth.org, real Christmas trees have a carbon footprint of around 3.5 kilograms of CO2 if they are disposed of in a wood chipper or a bonfire. However, if old trees are left in landfills, the footprint increases to 16kg.
While the emissions from Christmas trees make them sound like a bad option for the earth, there is a way to dispose of Christmas trees in Virginia Beach that can actually benefit the environment. Chicho’s Pizza and the Virginia Aquarium both collect old Christmas trees from multiple locations throughout the city and put them on beaches to restore and recreate dunes.
There is discussion that artificial Christmas trees are a better choice for the environment, but that isn’t necessarily true in the short run. Artificial trees have a carbon footprint of around 40 kg of CO2 if they are thrown out. If someone wanted to purchase an artificial tree for environmental benefits, they would have to use it for at least 12 years in order to be more sustainable than a real Christmas tree. Unlike real Christmas trees, artificial trees are not biodegradable. When left in landfills, they could release harmful chemicals into the soil. If the environment weighs heavily on your mind as you buy a holiday tree this season, consider purchasing a second-hand artificial tree and keeping it for years to come.
Whether a real or fake tree is for you depends on the individual preferences of you and your family. Are you looking to save money? Help the environment? Preserve tradition? Ignore the people who judge your choice of tree and get what is best for you.
