Bradley students unsure what is better: real or fake Christmas trees

by Madison Bibbey Staff Writer

The following story was written by a student on the staff of The Jaguar Times as part of Hilliard Bradley High School’s Journalism Production course.

The debate about whether real or fake trees are better has been around for years. I dug into the benefits of each, amongst the staff and students at Bradley.

Real trees

An artificial Christmas tree is displayed in front of a window in a living room. Photo by Madison Bibbey.

Firstly the pros of having a real Christmas tree range from the smell and atmosphere in your home to the sustainability of it. There are lots of local Christmas tree farms across America, allowing you to support a local small business. The purchase of these trees also supports the economy by employing Americans. There are also a number of tree recycling programs in Ohio.

Since trees absorb CO2, real Christmas trees can keep the air in your home cleaner if you keep it alive. Recycling your tree at the end of the holiday season can also ensure that the CO2 your tree absorbs doesn’t get released back into the air. Real trees cost on average between $80 and $100 and fake trees can cost as much as $1000 stated CBS News.

In addition to helping the economy and the planet, these trees also provide a nice atmosphere in your home. Lots of people buy Christmas tree scented candles but real Christmas trees have “the fresh pine smell” as expressed by freshman Breck Grubbs. Also the experience of searching for your tree is a fun and memorable experience for people of all ages. Real Christmas trees also don’t require the annoying task of arranging branches.

However real Christmas trees also have their downfalls. The trees can cause allergies to flare up and no one wants to spend their holiday season sneezing every time they’re in their home.

Of course the trees can also be messy. The needles shed which makes getting into your home even more of a challenge. Algebra teacher Miss Kowalski pointed out that real trees “can have bugs” living in them. They also need to be watered everyday. If you don’t water it everyday it can dry out. If your tree dries out more needles will shed and it can become a potential fire hazard. Miss. Kowalski is originally from Venezuela and explained that “not real pine trees because it’s so warm there”. So real Christmas trees in some places around the world just aren’t an option.

Real trees are displayed in about 24% of household as stated by Thomas. So if you’re willing to sweep pine needles everyday and water your tree, you may decide that a real tree is for you. The hunt for the tree and the festive smell will certainly make your holiday season.

Artificial Trees

An artificial tree is much better than a real tree in terms of convenience. Most of them come with lights already on the tree, They are less messy, and They require little to no maintenance. Freshman Jazlyn Cancel also emphasized that they “last longer and you can always have them”. In the long run, artificial trees are cheaper since you don’t have to buy one every year. Since it’s artificial, it also doesn’t flare up allergies. There’s also different color options. When you’re going to buy an artificial tree, you don’t have to search through the cold for sometimes hours. You can also purchase trees made from recycled PVC. There are often brands that use recycled materials made to last longer than the average artificial tree.

The cons for artificial trees are mostly environmental. However, the National Christmas Tree Association stated 85% of artificial trees in America are imported from China. Artificial trees made in America are limited. Even though recycled PVC trees are more sustainable it’s also more expensive. Transporting these trees overseas consumes oil and fuel and releases carbon emissions. Unlike real trees, artificial trees aren’t biodegradable.

Artificial trees are displayed in about 63% of households, a Thomas article shared. Despite that artificial trees are not made very sustainably. However, there are more sustainable options and they last upwards to ten years. If you’re more into convenience, then an artificial tree might be for you.

Artificial trees are better if you’re looking for something convenient that will save you time and money. Real trees are better if you want something that emits the festive scent of pine and is more sustainable. At the end of the day, neither tree is better than the other. Both kinds of trees have their advantages and disadvantages. The point of Christmas is to celebrate everything you have and what you’ve accomplished. So whichever tree lets you celebrate the most, is the best tree for you. Personally I’d definitely have to say my favorite is a real tree.