Real Christmas Tree Facts:
  • In the United States alone there are approximately 25-30 million Real Christmas Trees sold each year.
  • Currently there are close to a half a billion live Christmas Trees growing in the United States all planted by farmers on their farm.
  • Around 500,000 acres are used in producing Fresh Christmas Trees, this helps to preserve our green space.
  • The Christmas Tree Industry includes around 21,000 growers in the US and employs over 100,000 people both full time and part time.
  • North American Christmas Trees are grown in all fifty states and Canada. The US Commerce Department states that at least 80% of artificial trees are manufactured in China.
  • Real Christmas Trees are recyclable. Artificial Trees contain non-biodegradable plastics. Artificial Trees can also contain metal toxins like lead.
  • The US has more than 4,000 recycling programs.
  • A typical 6 to 7 foot tree can take as many as 15 years to grow or as little as 4 years. The average time to grow a typical Christmas Tree is 7 years.
  • Top producing Christmas Tree states include Oregon, North Carolina, Michigan, Wisconsin, Washington and Pennsylvania.
  • Top selling trees include: Fraser Fir, Balsam Fir, Noble Fir, Douglas Fir, Virginia Pine, Scotch Pine and White Pine. For every Real Christmas Tree harvested, up to 3 seedlings are planted in its place the following spring.
Making An Eco-Friendly Choice: The Environmental Debate Settled
 
 
Real Trees
Artificial Trees
Place of Origin
  • United States & Canada
  • 85% from China
Method of Production
  • farming
  • planting takes place Jan-May
  • estimated 40-45 million trees planted in 2008 in North America
  • estimated 446 million trees growing on farms in U.S.
  • tree farms support complex eco-systems
  • factory
  • raw materials sent to factory & assembled into final product
  • product is shipped to U.S. then distributed to stores
  • number of factories unknown
  • factories only consume natural resources
Components
  • plant tissue
  • 100% biodegradable
  • plastics and metals
  • non-biodegradable
PVC Free
  • Yes
  • No
Lead Free
  • Yes
  • No (lead is used in the process of making PVC plastic)
Carbon Neutral
  • Yes
  • trees absorb carbon dioxide
    when decomposing, carbon, nitrogen and other elements are released into soil
  • No
  • plastic is a petroleum byproduct
Chemicals
  • No
  • Scientists have measured cut Christmas trees for chemical residue and not found any significant amounts
  • 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
  • Most pesticides are ground applied
  • Herbicides are used to suppress, not kill off, weeds to prevent soil erosion
  • If someone tells you “there are chemicals on cut Christmas trees” they are wrong
  • Yes
  • PVC itself is a dangerous chemical
  • Manufacture of PVC creates and disperses dioxins, the most toxic man-made chemical known
  • 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
  • Used trees can be recycled in a variety of ways
  • Decomposing trees add nutrients back into the earth
  • Landfill
  • Fake trees can’t be recycled and end up in landfills
  • All of the accumulated fake 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
Eco-Friendly
  • Yes
  • No