Buying a Fresh Cut Tree, the Eco-Friendly Choice!
Snow-Crest not only provides a wonderful product, but is also proud to be part of an active industry which is working towards bettering our environment. Not only are farm fresh Christmas trees a renewable, 100% biodegradable and recyclable resource; the trees grown at farms like Snow-Crest help to stabilize soil, protect water supplies and provide refuge for wildlife while creating scenic green belts. While growing, each of these trees absorb carbon dioxide and other gases while emitting fresh oxygen. In addition, decomposing trees release carbon, nitrogen and other elements directly into the soil.
For every farm fresh Christmas tree harvested in the United States, up to 3 seedlings are planted in it's place the following spring. Each tree planted help eliminate potentially harmful greenhouse gasses as it grows. There are about 500,000 acres of land used to grow fresh Christmas trees in the U.S. with much of that land preserving green space. Currently there are 21,000 Christmas tree growers in this country with over 100,000 people employed full or part-time in the industry.
In comparison, artificial trees are a petroleum-based product manufactured primarily in Chinese factories. Artificial trees contain non-biodegradable plastics such as PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and possible metal toxins such as lead. Artificial Christmas Trees were recently added to the Center for Health, Environment & Justice's list of household products containing PVC.
The average family which purchases an artificial tree uses it for only
six to nine years before throwing it away, where it will remain in a landfill
for centuries after disposal.
Fresh Cut vs. Artificial: A Side by Side Comparison
Still confused over the debate on whether it is better for the environment to use an artificial Christmas tree or a farm fresh Christmas tree? Use the following "apple to apples" comparison chart to make an eco-friendly choice.
|
Farm
Fresh Trees
|
Artificial
Trees
|
|
PLACE
OF ORIGIN
|
|
|
United
States & Canada
|
85%
from China
|
|
METHOD
OF PRODUCTION
|
|
|
Farming
|
Factory
Production
|
|
An
estimated 446 million trees are growing
on farms in the U.S. |
Number
of factories is unknown.
|
|
Tree
farms support complex eco-systems.
|
Factories
only consume natural resources.
|
|
COMPONENTS
|
|
|
Plant
tissue
|
Plastics
and metals
|
|
100%
Biodegradable
|
Non-biodegradable
|
|
PVC
& LEAD
|
|
|
Contains
no PVC or Lead
|
Contains
PVC with lead being used in the
process of making PVC plastic. |
|
CARBON
NEUTRAL?
|
|
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
Trees
absorb carbon dioxide.
|
Plastic
is a petroleum byproduct.
|
|
When
decomposing, carbon, nitrogen and other elements are released
back into the soil.
|
|
|
CHEMICAL
CONTENT
|
|
|
Does
not contain chemicals.
|
Contains
chemicals.
|
|
Cut
Christmas trees measured by scientists found
no significant amounts of chemical residue. |
The
PVC used in artificial trees is considered a dangerous chemical.
|
|
Herbicides
are used to suppress, not kill off,
weeds to prevent soil erosion. |
Manufactures
of PVC create and disperses dioxins, the most toxic man-made chemical
known.
|
|
Many
different bugs, fungi and parasites can attack and kill trees,
so farmers may use pesticides to keep consumers' trees healthy
and alive until harvest. However, most pesticides are ground applied.
|
Released
into air or water, dioxins enter the food chain, where they accumulate
in fatty tissues of animals and humans, a potential risk for causing
cancer, damaging immune functions and impairing children's development.
|
| DISPOSAL | |
|
Recycled
& Reused
|
Deposited
in a Landfill
|
|
Decomposing
trees add nutrients back into the earth.
|
Accumulated
artificial trees are a burden to
the environment indefinitely. |
| RENEWABLE RESOURCE? | |
|
Yes,
new trees are planted every year.
|
No, Petroleum, used to make plastic, is a
non-renewable resource, as are metals. |
Recycling Fresh Cut Trees
Ever wonder where all those fresh Christmas trees end up after dropping them off for recycling? Since farm fresh Christmas trees are biodegradable, they can be easily reused or recycled for mulch and many other purposes. To find a recycling program near you go to www.realchristmastrees.com and type in your ZIP code and discover the many ways that fresh Christmas trees are being recycled and reused in communities nationwide by following the links below!
Want to see what other environmental experts have to say on the subject? Follow the following links for more information:
- Smithsonian.com shares ways to make your holidays eco-friendly by using a Real Christmas Tree.
- TreeHugger.com gives tips for selecting a "green" Christmas Tree
- The American Forests Organization supports the growth and use of Real Christmas Trees.
- According to Newsweek, experts recommend that you should "always go real."
- Focus
Organic.com reminds consumers that choosing a Real Tree is not going
to harm forests, making it a wise environmental choice.
