by Susan Hibberd

Created on: December 10, 2007

When you first think about it, getting a lovely fake tree seems such a good idea!

- You can have one as large as you like and because it lasts from year to year, the cost
is very reasonable
- You don't have to collect it every year
- You don't have to carry it home all in one piece - it comes in sections in a box
- You don't have to cut down any living trees

But wait! These are good reasons to choose a tree if you are only thinking about your own comfort, but on a global scale, fake trees use a lot of energy to produce and aren't biodegradable.

Because of the amount of energy it takes to manufacture a fake Christmas tree, it has a large carbon footprint. This means that the process used to produce it creates a lot of carbon dioxide which damages the environment.

Fake trees don't rot down like real ones ie they aren't biodegradable, so when they are disposed of, they stay in landfill for ever.

Real trees are the best alternative for Christmas. Choose one that is grown near to your home town (to reduce travel costs) and make sure it has been grown on a farm using sustainable farming methods. This way you will have a lovely tree that smells nice and you can know that the pleasure you get from it isn't damaging the environment. Even the 'fun' you have trying to get a 15' tree into 12' vehicle is part of the Christmas experience - the kids will love it, and you'll laugh about it later!

Choose well and have a happy Christmas holiday!

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