It’s December, which means many people have already bought their Christmas tree, or in some cases, dragged it out of storage.
While you might think choosing an artificial tree is better for the environment, that’s not quite the case, according to The Nature Conservancy, an environmental organization with roots dating back to 1915.
Although cutting down trees isn’t ideal, the resulting carbon footprint is smaller than that created by shipping artificial trees around the globe — mostly from China. Not to mention, most artificial trees are made from nonrecyclable plastic and eventually end up in landfills. Real trees, however, absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen.
The Nature Conservancy points out that out of the 350 million to 500 million Christmas trees growing on farms across the U.S., only 30 million are harvested each year. Buying a real tree supports tree farmers and the wildlife living on their farms. Additionally, for every tree purchased, farmers plant one to three seedlings in its place, according to the National Christmas Tree Association — another win for Mother Nature.
Once the holidays are over, real trees can be recycled. Many cities offer mulching programs where you can drop off your tree or, in some areas, they’ll even pick it up and mulch it.
And best of all, real trees smell a lot better than artificial pine scent.