In terms of disposing of the trees, fake trees in a landfill will take centuries to break down while real trees will break down much quicker or can be used as compost or firewood.

However, artificial trees last more than one season so using one every year will cut down on emissions needed to transport a tree.

In the end, whatever tree you choose, the emissions from making and transporting them is only about a gallon of gas, so choose whichever tree you prefer. But if it’s an artificial tree, keep it for as long as possible, and if it’s a real tree, get it from a tree farm or lot nearby.

Megan Hall: Welcome to Possibly, where we take on huge problems like the future of our planet and break them down into small questions with unexpected answers. I’m Megan Hall.

In 2019, the Rhode Island statehouse has a different type of Christmas tree in the rotunda…

10 News, Danielle Kennedy: Yes, it’s fake. 

It’s created something of a controversy…

10 News, Danielle Kennedy: The National Christmas Tree Association criticizing the governor saying she made a “poor decision for the environment and small businesses.

So in this encore episode from 2019, we decided to investigate, are artificial or real Christmas trees better for the environment?

We had Molly Magid and Tammuz Frankel from our Possibly team look into this. Welcome Molly and Tammuz!

Molly Magid: Hi Megan!

Tammuz Frankel: Hi!

Megan Hall: So what did you find out? Is an artificial or real tree better?

Molly Magid: Well, for this question, better could mean a lot of things, so we focused on comparing greenhouse gas emissions for artificial and real trees.   

Tammuz Frankel: To learn more about growing Christmas trees, went to Big John Leyden’s Tree Farm in West Greenwich.

Molly Magid: We talked to Tim Leyden: Leyden, the co-owner of the farm, who has also denounced the choice of a fake tree for the state house…

Tim Leyden: Our absolute competition is not other local farmers. It’s the fake artificial tree.

Megan Hall: what did you learn about the emissions associated with tree farming?

Molly Magid: Well, a Christmas tree farm is not impact free, because they often use fertilizers and pesticides.

Tammuz Frankel: But since Christmas trees take in about 2 kilograms of CO2 when they grow, they have a negative carbon footprint. 

Megan Hall: And how many emissions come from making an artificial tree? 

Molly Magid: Well, artificial trees are made of plastic, so the amount of emissions from making one depends on its size.

Tammuz Frankel: But, one study comparing the carbon footprint of real and artificial trees found that making a fake tree releases about 8 kg of CO2.

Megan Hall: Is that a lot?

Molly Magid: That’s about equal to burning a gallon of gas.

Megan Hall: What about at the end of the season? What’s the impact of throwing these trees away? 

Tammuz Frankel: Well, if you send an artificial tree to the landfill, the plastic takes centuries to break down, so it takes up space for a long Tim Leyden:e. 

Molly Magid: In comparison, a real tree will break down faster if you send it to a landfill. 

Tammuz Frankel: Or you could reuse it as compost or firewood. 

Megan Hall: So it sounds like real trees are better in all ways?

Tammuz Frankel: Not exactly. There’s one more thing to consider- how long you keep an artificial tree. Since you can use it year after year, you cut down on the emissions required to get a new tree every Christmas.

Molly Magid: And when you don’t need to get a new tree, you don’t create emissions driving to a tree farm or a lot.  

Tammuz Frankel: When we went to Big John Leyden’s farm, we drove fifty-five miles roundtrip, which released about 17 kg of CO2.

Molly Magid: That’s more than the emissions it takes to make a plastic tree!

Tammuz Frankel: And if we went back every year, those emissions would add up to even more.

Megan Hall: So, how long on average do you need to keep an artificial tree to make up for the emissions from its production?

Tammuz Frankel: One study states that, on average, keeping an artificial tree for five years would make up for the emissions associated with creating and transporting it. 

Megan Hall: Okay, so what’s the answer then?

Molly Magid: Well, whatever type of tree you choose, the emissions associated with making and transporting them is about equal to the emissions from burning just one gallon of gas, 

Tammuz Frankel: So either way, it’s not really a big deal. 

Molly Magid: You should get the type of tree you prefer, but if it’s an artificial tree, try to use it as long as you can. 

Tammuz Frankel: And if it’s a real tree, get it from a tree farm that’s close by and compost or mulch it instead of throwing it on the curb after Christmas. 

Megan Hall: Great! Thanks Molly and Tammuz!

That’s it for today. For more information or to ask a question about the way you recycle, use energy, or make any other choice that affects the planet, go to “the public’s radio dot org slash possibly.” Or subscribe to Possibly wherever you get your podcasts. 

Possibly is a co-production of the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society and the Public’s Radio. 

 References

1. Couillard, S, Bage, G, and Trudel, J S. Comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) of artificial vs natural Christmas tree. Canada: N. p., 2009. 
2. PE Americas. Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of an Artificial Christmas Tree and a Natural Christmas Tree for American Christmas Tree Association. 2010.

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