Real Christmas Trees Are Greener, Survey Says

Would you prefer a giant green upended toilet-bowl brush as a Christmas tree, or a real one? (Indeed, the first manufacturer of the fake tree — in 1930 — was Addis, a brush company. Aluminum trees were first produced in 1958.)

There are two current arguments to the “fake v. real” tree issue, leaving the question of aesthetics aside.

Those in the “real” camp argue that the fake tree is made of lead-laced, petroleum-based PVC, the manufacture of which pollutes land around the factories, and decry their need to be shipped from Asia (85% of these trees are made there), thus emitting plenty of carbon over the miles.

Those in the “fake” camp say chopping down a real tree ruins its chances of helping absorb carbon over its natural lifespan (plus, they say, it likely needs to be shipped from Nova Scotia or Vermont or British Columbia anyway).

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