The December debate: Natural or artificial Christmas tree?

by Jacques Bérubé

Natural or artificial? It's a question that comes back around every year. Practical and aesthetically pleasing though an artificial tree may be, it’s not all that eco-friendly. And when 15,000 scientists in 184 countries are raising the alarm about the environmental damage caused by greenhouse gases, perhaps it’s time to take note when buying a Christmas tree.

THE PROS

• It’s clean, easy to care for and doesn’t lose its needles.
• Long-lasting and easy to set up, there's no need to buy a new one each year, transport it, de-ice it and water it. On average, consumers keep them for around 6 years.
• Available in several different colors and textures, artificial trees are aesthetically pleasing and can have a trendy look to them.
• They're safe and pose a minimal fire risk.
• The price of a full-size artificial Christmas tree (7 ft.) ranges from $150 to $400 in stores such as Rona or Canadian Tire.

THE CONS

• Made in Asia from PVC and other non-recyclable plastics and transported over here, an artificial Christmas tree produces 8.1 kg of carbon dioxide per year. To make up for that, it would need to be kept for 20 years.

AFTER CHRISTMAS

• To keep it, you simply take it apart and store it carefully.
• To get rid of it, given that it isn't recyclable, you can give it a second life by giving your tree to a school, a day-care center, a youth center, a women's shelter or a shelter for the homeless.

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OTHER GREAT SUGGESTIONS:

• Hints to keep your Christmas tree fresh longer
• How to prepare a Christmas budget you can stick to
• Where to find the best holiday decorations in Montreal

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THE PROS

• It’s beautiful, it smells good and it’s alive. You might even say it had a personality.
• Whether you buy it from the public market, from a garden center, a kiosk or pick it out where it’s grown, buying a Christmas tree is a great family activity.
• Natural Christmas trees are completely recyclable. They transform carbon dioxide into oxygen.
• By buying a natural Christmas tree, we’re also supporting the local economy. In Quebec, nearly 1,500,000 trees are cut each year. 400,000 go to homes in Quebec and the rest are exported to the United States and the Caribbean. The annual harvest generates revenues of nearly $25 million.
• A full-size natural Christmas tree costs $30 to $70.

AFTER CHRISTMAS

• Most cities offer a natural Christmas tree collection service. You just have to leave them at the edge of the street (after removing the decorations, of course!). Check your municipality’s website for collection days. Fir trees will be chipped to make mulch or compost.
• You can also plant it in the snow to make a shelter for the birds.
• Use its branches to cover fragile plants in your garden and protect them from the severe cold.
• Cut it into logs to make firewood.
• The needles make excellent naturally-scented potpourris.
• If you have a potted tree, you can transplant it in the spring.
• To find out more, visit the website of the Quebec Christmas Tree Growers Association

Merry Christmas! Let's make a small gesture to ensure that our children can celebrate more magical winter solstices, for generations to come.