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Updated at: 12/13/2009 11:18 AM Real vs. Fake Christmas Trees: Which Is Better?It's the age-old debate. When it comes to Christmas trees, are real or fake ones better? For some, real trees are a holiday custom."I like the tradition of it," said Chris Wissen. "We always had a real one when I was a kid. Plus I love the smell, and just the whole nature of a real tree." "I like the real trees because that's what the whole spirit of the season is about," said Jim Arndt. Others hate the idea of cutting a live tree down. "I like fake trees because i'm not killing trees, I like fake trees because they're sturdier, and I like them because they're more cost effective," said Barbara Best. But are fake trees really less expensive? The National Christmas Tree Association, or NCTA, says consumers spent an average of $60.63 on fake trees in 2008, while folks spent an average of only $36.50 on a real tree. So in the end, real trees seem to be the cheaper choice. And even though a fake tree can last up to a decade, data shows more people each year are choosing real trees over fake ones. And here's a look at the environmental impact. The NCTA says fake trees are non-biodegradeable and often end up in landfills. Experts say most fake trees contain polyvinyl chloride or PVC, which is not recyclable. And 85% of fake trees are imported. On the other hand, experts say after christmas, many real trees are chipped up to be used for mulch or fuel wood. Local growers say they plant at least two seedlings for every tree that's cut, so it's a renewable resource. And unlike fake trees, the real ones are locally grown. "It is a local product and we do hire local people and buy our supplies and inputs locally," said Douglas Hoffbauer, a Northland tree farmer. "All the dollars spent on these trees stay in the local economy." So real trees appear to be cheaper and more eco-friendly. But some people say fake trees are safer. "We have in-floor heat, and it has a tendency to dry out a regular tree, so for safety's sake we go with the fake tree," said Linda Basina. Others enjoy keeping their tree alive. "It's kind of fun to water the tree everyday and have that whole environment," said Laurie Arndt. At the end of the day, it still comes down to individual preferences. So it looks like this age-old debate will continue on, at least for now. |
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