Every year, Americans buy somewhere between 35 million and 50 million Christmas trees, and many more pull an artificial tree out of storage for the season. In all, about three-quarters of U.S. households typically have some kind of Christmas tree, surveys show.
People often ask which is more sustainable – a real tree or an artificial one? It’s a big debate, and the answer depends on who you ask and which factors you consider.
A more useful question is: How do I find the most sustainable tree of the kind I want to get?
I’m a forestry professor who works on issues of sustainability. There are advantages and disadvantages to both cut trees and artificial trees. Here are some tips to consider for each.
(Credit: 10'000 Hours/DigitalVision via Getty Images) Cut Christmas trees require water and maintenance – and careful thought about disposal.
