Real vs. Fake Christmas Trees & the Environment
By: Kristine Munroe-Mahoney
November 29th, 2012
Environment Science: Eco-friendly Christmas trees
November 29th, 2012
Environment Science: Eco-friendly Christmas trees
Summary: This article is about whether a real Christmas tree or a fake Christmas tree is better for the environment. It turns out the most Eco -friendly Christmas tree to have during the holidays, is a real one. Although it may seem as if having a plastic tree is better than chopping down hundreds during Christmas time, it turns out a plastic tree isn't the best thing to have. Fake trees are known to contain lead, and PVC, there known to also release lead dust. The making of fake trees also take time and delivery from countries such as China. Plastic trees are one of the things that don't decompose, and aren't recyclable, so disposing a fake tree would be difficult. Real Christmas trees on the other hand may be grown with pesticides, but still is a better choice. Real trees don't contain lead or PVC, but absorb CO2 and release oxygen. You can also put real trees into use after the holidays by turning it into mulch, replanting it, and composting it. The choice of purchasing a real or fake tree has come down to a conclusion from environmentalists that a real Christmas tree is the better option.
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Reflection: I chose this article because I wanted to find out what type of tree is better purchase around the holidays. Since trees are one of the natural resources we use the most, I suspected that during Christmas time is when more trees are getting chopped down. With more trees getting chopped down during the holidays I always thought that buying a fake Christmas tree would be better for the environment. After reading this article, it turns out I was wrong. Purchasing a fake tree is in fact worse than chopping down trees. I had no idea that plastic trees contained lead, and is able to release lead dust. I also didn't realize that fake trees are very difficult to get rid of, since they aren't recyclable. Real Christmas trees on the other hand aren't fully the best to purchase either, since most of them contain pesticides, but it's still a better option than a fake tree. Unlike fake trees, real trees can be put to use after Christmas such as replanting, getting turned into mulch, and having it composed. After reading this article I know now that the most Eco- friendly Christmas tree to purchase is a real one, and so should everyone else.
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