What’s Better for the Environment—Real or Fake Christmas Trees?

By Bethanie H

Published

12/11/2024

I know which side I’m on—what about you? In the debate over real vs. fake Christmas trees, some people feel very passionately. But have you ever wondered which option is better for the environment? The Nature Conservancy recently shared some insights to help clear up the issue.

Videos by Outdoors

“A few reasons why real #christmastrees are better for the environment,” writes the nonprofit in an Instagram post sharing a video and some information on the topic. “They keep tree farms that sequester carbon in business. You can recycle them at the end of their use. Manufacturing fake trees produces emissions.”

The Nature Conservancy concedes that in some cases, a fake tree might be a better fit for a particular situation. In those cases, the organization encourages people to “give it a long life and pass it on when you’re done!”

In a longer version of the discussion posted as a blog, the nonprofit further explains that trees from Christmas tree farms help fight climate change, even if they’re eventually cut down. Conversely, The Nature Conservancy says people buy around 10 million fake trees in the U.S. alone, and nearly 90% of them come from China, which requires carbon emissions and resources to transport. Furthermore, fake trees usually end up in landfills.

Watch The Nature Conservancy’s video recap of the real vs. fake Christmas tree debate here: