As I was putting up my tree earlier this week, it suddenly occurred to me to wonder, in light of my expanding eco-consciousness, whether a real tree or fake tree was the greener alternative.
I got to thinking about how the real trees are grown, harvested, and transported, but then again, what ARE fake trees made of? I decided to do some research, and discovered this to be a long-standing, heated debate! Running through the pros and cons in my head, I honestly expected them to come out about evenly in the end, but as it turned out, that wasn't the case at all! Here's the facts - do with them as you will: Real trees - Pros

• Biodegradable
• 1-3 new trees are planted for each one cut
• Generally planted in soil that will not support other crops
• 1 acre of a Christmas tree farm provides enough oxygen for 18 people, which works out to oxygen for about 9 million people from the roughly 500 million acres of tree farms
• Many communities offer curbside pickup for mulching
• Better option for those allergic to dust
• Obviously, contains no PVC

Real trees - Cons

• Requires significant fuel for shipping, consumer shopping, and eventual waste disposal
• Frequently require pesticides, which can leech into water as they biodegrade (although there ARE varieties that require no pesticides)
• Can be a fire hazard - consumers are instructed to use no more than 3 strands of lights

Fake trees - Pros

• Long life span - when well taken care of, a fake tree can last for decades
• Better for those allergic to the chemical that gives evergreens their scent

Fake trees - Cons

• Petroleum required for manufacture
• Often made of PVC, which is one of the most toxic plastics ever created
• Often contain lead, which is used to stabilize the PVC
• Manufacture releases dioxins into the atmosphere during manufacture
• Generally manufactured in Asia, requiring huge amounts of fuel for shipping to Europe and U.
  S.
  

Huh.
Well, from an environmental standpoint, the facts make it hard not to come down in favor of the real trees, but this does NOT mean that you should toss your fake tree and run out to buy a real one! The first rule of the eco-code is REDUCE, so the longer you keep that tree, the greener it gets.
The second part of the code is, of course, REUSE, so when you no longer want your tree, please don't throw it away to linger eternally in a landfill - donate it! So you might be wondering, is there a greener option than the real tree? Actually yes, but it involves a twist on the tradition.
Turns out that the greenest option (besides not having a tree) is to decorate a living tree.
Evergreens will only last about a week indoors, so for those of you who like to keep your tree up from Thanksgiving until after New Year's, you'll need to pick a more suitable plant.
Alternatively, consider simply decorating a tree in your yard, where the whole neighborhood can enjoy it!