If you've ever wondered which type of Christmas trees are better for the environment like I have, here is your answer: Real Christmas trees are greener, according to the latest research from global warming experts at St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia.
Among the reasons:
Live trees remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as they grow, can be broken down into mulch after Christmas season is over, and can decompose.
Live trees are also usually grown on tree farms, which grow trees specifically to cut them down for Christmastime, which means that most of the real trees sold today are not depleting natural forests. It'll certainly smell better than the fake Christmas tree!
Farmers replace cut trees with saplings.
Fake plastic trees, on the other hand, are not biodegradable, and harmful greenhouse gases are released during their production.
The most environmentally-friendly option would be a tree grown locally that still has its roots intact so that it can be re-planted after the holidays. If that isn't possible, and you are facing a choice between going plastic or natural, pick the live tree for a greener choice.
The main reason we use an artifical tree is due to allergies in our house. Real trees seem to set this off worse.