Christmas Trees: Real or artificial for a more sustainable holiday season?

Greenscore - A Sustainability Podcast

The holiday season is upon us, and for folks who celebrate Christmas, that probably means you're getting ready to decorate your Christmas tree. Approximately 100 million natural Christmas trees are sold in the US and EU every year, with another 10 million artificial trees sold in the US alone. Depending on whether you grew up with a real or an artificial Christmas tree, you might already have a preference for one type over another. But have you ever thought about the environmental impact of this festive tradition?
In this special holiday episode, discover how natural and artificial Christmas trees are grown or made, what their environmental impacts are, and how you can choose the greenest option for a more sustainable holiday season.
Sources:
- How real Christmas trees are grown (Vox, 2020)
- How artificial Christmas trees are made (Business Insider, 2020)
- Life cycle assessment of real vs artificial Christmas trees (Ellipsos, Canada, 2009)
- Life cycle assessment of real vs artificial Christmas trees (Sphera, U.S., 2010)

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