So now that it is Chrstmas time, I am sure many people wonder whether to get a real tree or to stick to a fake one. Since more people are eco conscious now, many people probably wonder which one is more green and environmentally friendly.

The best answer is to get a live tree cut from a tree farm so that there is no need to deliver the tree anywhere. It can also be fun for the family as well. Getting a real tree anywhere else is still better than getting a fake one though. It may be cheaper as well but of course it creates CO2 to get the tree to the store.

Last time we got a tree, we got it from a tree farm. For my tree this year, we went to look at the local tree lots but found the price to be pretty high. Target and Home Depot have good trees and are a lot cheaper so we ended up getting one from Target. Even though it is better to support the local businesses, we couldnt justify the price difference.

Getting a fake tree, is the most economical since you can buy one tree and use the same tree for years. But when you eventually get rid of the tree, it is not as easy to dispose of the tree as it is not biodegradable. Getting a real tree is better for the environment than getting a fake tree because fake trees are made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) which causes pollution when produced and is also hard to recycle. Lead can also be found in PVC so it may not be good to have this exposure for children.

Real trees are good for the environment because trees absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen and they can be recycled afterwards into mulch. Once the tree is cut, another tree is planted in its place and is ready again in a couple of years. There is also the option of getting a live tree and planting it but that is a little extreme and unrealistic and you might as well not get a tree at all if you want to be completely green.

via Yahoo Green, Treehugger, and Grist