Holiday Tree Farms in Corvallis, Oregon, ships a million fresh Christmas trees every year. All that harvesting takes place over only six weeks, and they must be shipped fast, which requires chainsaws, trucks, and helicopters. Cut Christmas trees are more eco-friendly than artificial trees, but that doesn't mean you should throw out the artificial tree you already have. Throwing them out is a big part of the problem. But a real tree can be re-used, recycled, or composted, and there are more planted specifically for Christmas every year. (via HuffPo)
Just set up my artificial tree for the 34th year in a row. And I reckon it probably has enough life left it in that I will never need to buy another. OK, it is plastic, and fossil fuels went into making it and transporting it here from China. But I'm not convinced that it would have been more environmentally sound to grow, cut and transport 34 trees so far, and however many more into the future.
In our area (Astoria OR), they can be placed in streams to provide habitat for salmon babies and other fish.
ReplyDeleteThere's a program here that does that in the lake.
ReplyDeleteJust set up my artificial tree for the 34th year in a row. And I reckon it probably has enough life left it in that I will never need to buy another. OK, it is plastic, and fossil fuels went into making it and transporting it here from China. But I'm not convinced that it would have been more environmentally sound to grow, cut and transport 34 trees so far, and however many more into the future.
ReplyDeleteVireya, the linked article said after more 29 years of use, the artificial tree is the better environmental choice, so you are ahead of the game!
ReplyDelete