December 17, 2018

Real vs. Artificial Christmas Trees

+ Winter Look featuring Restricted Shoes




 


 





 



 



 


 



 


 


 

Over the weekend, I went Christmas tree shopping with my family. As more and more stores are carrying Christmas trees, I couldn’t help but wonder: are fake trees or real trees better for our planet? I sometimes feel sad seeing the fresh-cut trees bound and shackled in a lot, but all the plastic from fakes ones (especially with the toxic snow) seems just as daunting. Do you think you are being more environmentally conscientious by buying an artificial tree or a real tree?

Many experts say that buying a plastic, fake tree is far worse for the environment than buying a fresh-cut tree. Each year about 35 million live trees are cut for consumption in the United States; however, over 10 times that many are planted by farmers and currently growing. The pine trees are raised as crops for the holiday consumption with Oregon being the biggest grower followed by North Carolina. The living trees generate oxygen, take in carbon dioxide, provide habitats for wildlife, maintain job security, and preserve open land from development that would be unfit for most other crops. Real trees are biodegradable and can be disposed of by most cities. However, cut Christmas trees do have a short lifespan, require transportation from tree a lot, and tend to shed pine needles like there’s no tomorrow.

Artificial trees, by contrast, can last theoretically forever, are manufactured from plastic and metal, and cannot be recycled by most city recycling programs. After six to ten years of use, most fake trees will end up in a landfill. It is estimated that an artificial tree does not help the environment for 20 years. So, if your family is keeping the tradition of selecting a fresh-cut tree each year, enjoy with no guilt. Or if your family has had the same plastic tree for two decades, that’s wonderful. I think I’d love to get a real tree with my future family; I think having a family tradition of selecting a tree annually would be cool. So, now that you have knowledge about some pros and cons, are you an artificial tree or a real tree kind of person? Let me know in the comments below!

For the holiday adventure to the Christmas tree lot, I wore the Bestie boots from Restricted Shoes, styled with a cozy green jacket, turtleneck sweater, and embroidered jeans. I definitely wanted to stay warm and comfortable during the tree selecting. I hope you all are staying happy and healthy during the holiday season. I have a holiday present for you guys: use code SHELLYSTUCKMAN25 for 25% off all regular priced styles on RestrictedShoes.com. I love my boots (they are super comfy and run true to size), and I know they'll make the perfect gift for a loved one and/or yourself! Merry Christmas! Xoxo Shelly

Works Cited 1. Rudolf, John Collins. “How Green Is Your Artificial Christmas Tree? You Might Be Surprised.” New York Times. 17 Dec 2010 https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/18/business/energy-environment/18tree.html. 2. Zraick, Karen. “Real vs. Artificial Christmas Trees: Which Is the Greener Choice?” New York Times. 26 Nov 2018. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/26/business/energy-environment/fake-christmas-tree-vs-real-tree.html.

This post is sponsored by Restricted Shoes but all selections and opinions are my own. 

Outfit Details


Boots courtesy of Restricted Shoes (Use code SHELLYSTUCKMAN25 for 25% off all regular priced styles on RestrictedShoes.com)
Sweater & jeans courtesy of GUESS


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