I am not certain the debate is quite as simple as you present. For example, taking one trip to the store to purchase a plastic tree versus every year traveling to pick up a real tree and then the energy used to take it away is not a trivial matter. I would not argue that having a plastic tree is ultimately worse for the environment, but there IS a break-even point in number of years the plastic tree is used before it becomes a better option for the environment, and until someone calculates when that would be, it is difficult to accept the answer without some skepticism.

One last point is that if you already have a plastic tree, the best thing for the environment is to use it for as many years as you can. While we do not know how many years it would take for it to be better for the environment, it is a safe bet that if you use it for your remaining years on this planet that the environmental impact between the two is probably a wash.

That said, there is no question that having a potted tree or just decorating a tree outside is the best of all options.

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Such strong Anti-Fake tree commentary! I live in Virginia and most of the trees sold on the side of the road/parking lots are shipped in from all over (Oregon, CA, WAS, MN, Maine). Very few are local. Tons of carbon spewing large trucks hauling these trees around Every year.
I think the previous response on break-even is key. I would think 6 or 8 years would be the break even and most people I know that have a fake on have used it for decades.
If you think people will start using live potted trees inside their homes at christmas, you must be high. (just trying to be realistic). I tried it once and did everything right. It just did not do well coming from outside freezing into a warm home environment and then back out again.
I always get a cut tree, but I have been debating getting a high quality fake one and using it for decades. I really, really do not buy into the "hands down" comment about real is better than fake (for the environment). I need and seek more information and debate on this topic.

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I am all for the plastic, I am allergic to evergreens and know several people that are... My parents have had their fake tree for 20 or so years and I have had mine for 5 or 6 and plan on using if for years to come

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I have gotten a living tree every year and then planted it outside when it got a little warmer. Doesn't take extra gas to go buy one every year. The tree farm is along the way whenever I go to the grocery store so I can just stop by on my way home.

I feel better with a living tree that will not be chopped down. They have helped to beautify my yard and only one of them did not survive. Getting the living tree is real recycling. Safer than a chopped tree that has gotten too dry.

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As a kid the saddest day of the year was when we threw out the Christmas tree. I started wondering why a living thing had to be killed for a couple of weeks of my enjoyment, then discarded.

When a magnificent 60-or 100-foot-tall tree is being set up at the White House or Rockefeller Center I picture the thing in the forest being chopped down. To me, not much difference from an animal being slaughtered - another event I'd rather not witness.

Can't we think of an alternative to plastic or murder?

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I think the best option is to decorate a tree or bush in your yard. Plastic creates toxic chemicals.

Cutting down trees in mass quantities creates several problems.

Trees help keep the air cleaner by filtering the pollution. Trees help retain ground water, and help prevent flooding.

In the winter trees act as a wind break. In hotter climates or the summer, they create shade, a cooling breeze, & prevent extreme heat problems.

In area's that a lot of trees have been cleared away to make room for developments (Townhomes, condo's), It is significantly hotter by 10 to 15 degrees easily.

Trees also provide a habitat ecosystem (food, shelter, and life for animals). When several trees are removed from land, the animals have no choice but to wander to find a new place to eat or sleep. By me, there have been a huge increase in Deer being hit by cars (this not only can cause death to the deer, but to the people in the vehicle).

There have been Mountain Lions, and Black Bear walking through our backyards.
We haven't seen, & weren't aware of them, until their home was clear-cut by development companies.

These large predator animals were living in the tree thickets, and seldom ventured out. There were no reports of them living in our region. Now, these animals are venturing through our backyards (Black Bear, Mountain Lion, Coyotte, Moose, Fox).

Removing trees, brings wildlife into your backyard that are not always welcome. This can create a danger to pets & small children.

Plastic Trees are made with toxic cancer causing chemicals. When plastic trees are made, several toxic chemicals are mixed together to create the tree. The fumes are also released into the air. When you bring the plastic tree home, it gives off toxic chemicals that your children inhale. They are also not bio-degradeable, and will be around after the human race is long gone.

To transport a Plastic Tree, or a Christmas Tree that is cut down, several things are involved that also damage the environment & give off CO2.

Several employees drive to work to make the plastic tree, or cut down the live tree. The workers may work in a factory that also creates more pollution & CO2. The plastic tree & live tree then have to be shipped on a truck, or by boat & truck creating more pollution & CO2. Then employees have to drive to work to sell the plastic tree or live Christmas Tree. More CO2 & Pollution. Lastly you drive to buy either the live tree or plastic tree & then drive home creating more pollution & CO2.

Christmas is not about having a Christmas Tree. Christmas is about good will to others. Helping others in need. Instead, create a new Chrismas tradition. Donate your used towels & blankets to Animal Shelters. Donate old clothes, toys, household appliances & collectibles to The Goodwill, Salvation Army, or to another organization.

In the Bible Jesus says, "I was naked & you gave me clothes. I was hungry & you provided food. I was without shelter & you provided shelter. I was sick and you visited me." The person asked him, "Lord, when did I do those things for you?" Jesus said, "When you helped someone in need, you helped me."

Christmas is a celeberation of what Jesus taught (feed those who are hungry, visit the elderly & sick, donate clothes, & more.)

This is the true meaning of Christmas, not shopping & collecting things, but giving to others by the goodness of your heart.

It is pointless to cut down trees, or support those who sell plastic ones. Decorate a bush or Tree in your yard. If you don't have one, visit one that your Town or City has. Isn't the point of Terrapass to cut CO2 emissions? Then do the right thing for the environment.

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Good stuff to think about! We personally got a fake tree when we first got married because our apartment complex would not allow live ones. (Fire hazard) Even though we since moved into a house, we've used it for 5 years now, and plan to keep using it until it falls apart.

As I read the other posts, an idea came to me: I wonder if another solution could be for someone (individuals or a company) to make a "tree" out of recycled materials, either to LOOK like a real tree or maybe just look like recycled junk... I know plenty of people who would just love that, plus what a conversation starter for your house guests!! :-)

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From talking with a friend whose wife works with the State Ag Dept on helping Christmas tree farmers develop Intergrated Pest Management protocols, it sounds like many of the tree farmers use a fair amount of pesticides to keep the trees bug free. It may not be as habitat generating or eco-friendly as is thought.

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I think its a wash. No way should anyone claim to have the HARD data and research analysis to claim Fake is better than Live or vice versa. I personally think the market could handle a fake "Eco" tree that was made out of recycled material and looked decent. That would work.
The people who talk about considering no tree or just decorating a bush mean well, but once again lack any reasonable solution. A real solution is one that many people can do and are willing to do, within reason. Asking people to bag the tree altogether is not reasonable to expect. Using a live potted tree is also somewhat unreasonable (people just wont do this - maybe in some locales a few will though).
So the only reasonable thing to expect that people will do and something that is a great first step to a greener x-mas is to get the new fake Eco Tree idea moving. Anyone agree? Am I high?

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Buying a potted tree and planting it in your yard is a great idea, if you can, but it's not that simple a solution.

I rent, so what am I supposed to do with it? Give it to a friend who owns a condo and also has no yard? Or a friend who lives in a community with manicured landscaping and a homeowner's association that doesn't look kindly on random evergreens popping up in the neighorhood? And even if you do have a yard, after a few years of this annual habit, I'm sure you will run out of places to plant trees and/or people to give them to.

I have always been against cutting down living trees just to watch them die in my living room after a few weeks. That is not festive. I always assumed that a fake tree that is used for years was a suitable eco-solution.

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My parents opted for an artificial tree the year my brother was due to be born right around Christmas. My brother just turned 46 and my parents are on their second artificial tree. That's 46 real trees that have not been cut down.

My husband & I got a small artificial tree when we were first married 25 years ago. We continued using that small tree while the children were small. We just got a larger artificial tree with built-in lights a few years ago. We plan on using it for many, many more years. There's 25 more real trees that have not been cut down. My siblings all use artificial trees as well.

I have passed by several of those Christmas Tree Stores over the last few days, and they all have dozens, maybe hundreds, of leftover trees sitting on their lots. What's to become of them? In order to have enough trees for all the people that want them, there must be a certain number of extra trees. Those extra trees adds to the carbon footprint of all people who use cut trees each year.

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