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Dreaming of a Green Christmas

Making Your Holiday Tree Eco-Friendly

  • By Jess Blumberg
  • Smithsonian.com, December 12, 2007

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    Despite the efforts of environmental organizations, only 28.6 million households purchased real trees in 2006, down from 32.8 million the previous year. Those years also saw a 6.5 percent increase in plastic trees being imported from China, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Dungey attributes these changes mostly to the convenience of artificial trees and misinformation about the benefits of real trees to the environment.

    "Christmas time is an opportunity to reflect on how we live, and it's important to think of the impact of our decisions," Gonzalez says. "This time of year could be a great step in the right direction."

    When New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the Radio City Rockettes lit the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center this year, more than 30,000 multi-colored bulbs sparkled on the 84-foot-tall Norway Spruce. But instead of the usual incandescent bulbs, they were LEDs, or light-emitting diodes, which emit more light per watt—ultimately saving the same amount of energy consumed by a typical 2,000-square-foot house in one month. City officials hope that this energy-saving technique will inspire others to have a truly green Christmas tree this season.

    Experts say it is not that difficult to make holiday trees eco-friendly. "You can make simple changes that don't affect the way you celebrate the holidays, but will reduce environmental problems," says Jennifer Hattam, lifestyle editor at the Sierra Club.

    The real versus artificial tree debate crops up every year, but environmentalists have come to a pretty clear-cut consensus: Natural is better. About 450 million trees are currently grown on farms in the U.S., according to the National Christmas Tree Association. "Buying a real tree is not depleting the forests," says Rick Dungey, a spokesman for the association. "It's like buying any food or fiber product."

    Environmental experts also point out that tree farms provide oxygen, diminish carbon dioxide and create jobs. While 85 percent of fake trees are imported from China, the U.S. Christmas tree industry creates more than 100,000 U.S. jobs. And although fake trees can be used year after year, most are made out of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic. When produced or burned, they release dioxins that can cause liver cancer and developmental problems, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

    Those looking to purchase a real tree have several options. While not abundant, organic farms around the country offer locally grown, pesticide-free trees and wreaths. Buying from tree farms that use integrated pest management (IHP), which is a biological, rather than chemical, method of pest control is another option. For example, growers release ladybugs that kill plant-eating aphids. "It recreates the natural cycle," says Stacey Gonzalez of the Center for Health, Environment and Justice, who added that IHP is 30 percent cheaper than conventional pesticides.

    Another recent trend is "balled and burlapped" or "living" trees, where farmers grow the Christmas tree's roots into a ball and wrap it in a burlap sack. These trees can be used for two weeks, and then replanted outside in warmer regions. Some companies will deliver the trees and then pick them up to replant them after the holidays.

    Those trimming the tree can also make other holiday decorations more environmentally friendly. Aside from the energy-saving LEDs, organic ornaments are available at fair-trade companies, which work to ensure that artisans get equitable compensation for their labor.

    As with all other waste, environmentalists stress the importance of recycling Christmas trees, which can be turned into compost or mulch. But they caution that a tree with tinsel or fake snow spray cannot be recycled. Most "treecycling" is done on a local level and regional extension agencies are the best resources for that information. But Earth911.org and the National Christmas Tree Association keep a national database.

    Despite the efforts of environmental organizations, only 28.6 million households purchased real trees in 2006, down from 32.8 million the previous year. Those years also saw a 6.5 percent increase in plastic trees being imported from China, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Dungey attributes these changes mostly to the convenience of artificial trees and misinformation about the benefits of real trees to the environment.

    "Christmas time is an opportunity to reflect on how we live, and it's important to think of the impact of our decisions," Gonzalez says. "This time of year could be a great step in the right direction."


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    Comments

    Leds is one step but they could have taken it one step futher and that is to do a solar christmas tree. We live in Boone NC and we have been doing a solar tree in downtown for years and yes they are LED lights. Keep it green, b

    Posted by bellis on December 12,2007 | 09:09AM

    I love this website!

    Posted by Isabella on January 2,2008 | 08:11AM

    Thank God someone has heard the calling and has decided NOT to cut off the root of Christmas Trees and is making them so that they can be replanted! This is intelligent human being. On the other hand, anyone who would abuse a living tree and cut off the root, should be fined or put in prison!

    Posted by Surette Kessler on January 26,2008 | 01:12PM

    It seems to make far more ecological sense to purchase a living christmas tree than an artificial one. Sure, the plastic trees are cheaper, and they last more than one year, but at what cost?..and if you can replant your tree it becomes reusable in any case.

    Posted by ChrisJ on March 14,2008 | 11:00AM

    Integrated Pest Management is usually abbreviated IPM.

    Posted by Amy on December 23,2008 | 10:35AM

    The idea of a live Christmas tree that can be replanted sounds good, but depending on how it was grown and harvested, may be very environmentally damaging. If the balled and burlaped tree was harvesting the root ball along with the native soil, they were mining the topsoil and subsoil at a non-sustainable rate, and permanetly destroying our best farmland soils. Methods that use a created mixture of compost/recycled soil (that doesn't use mined peat either) can be grown in a pot or other container and grown in conservation friendly manor. Too many misinformed people are passing along "balled and burlaped live trees are the greenest choice", when it may be the worst. Also buying local, and choosing native species (or at least well adapted so they don't require a lot of water and chemicals is important too. When in doubt ask for more info from the supplier.

    Posted by kip kolesinskas on December 23,2008 | 10:55AM

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