Real Christmas trees greener than the plastic variety

Sat, 12 Dec 2009

Sydney - People who buy plastic Christmas trees rather than authentic fir ones often say they are helping save the planet. But only if they use the artificial tree for every festive season for almost two decades, researchers in Australia said Saturday.

They said that 3 kilograms of carbon dioxide is produced in the growing, transportation and disposal of a real tree compared with the 48 kilograms produced in the manufacture of the average artificial tree.

"You would need to keep a plastic tree for nearly 20 years to be on the same carbon footprint as a natural tree," Victoria state Environment Minister Gavin Jennings told public broadcaster ABC.

Jennings, who commissioned the research, said the ideal would be for householders to use a potted fir tree and replant it after Christmas is over.

In Britain, some growers are providing a rent-a-tree service, with customers having the same tree each year. Off-season, the replanted tree soaks up carbon dioxide and gives the renter a pleasant green feeling that can last the rest of the year.