With the rotting of the Halloween jack-o-lanterns well underway, and the dulcet tones of Mariah Carey on the radio, it signifies one thing – it’s the beginning of the holiday season. A question arises for those who celebrate Christmas, “What type of tree should I buy?”. There is no right answer to this question, but there are some things everyone should take into consideration when making the decision for themselves. 

There are actually multiple types of “fake” Christmas trees. The most common type of fake Christmas tree is also the worst type for the environment to buy. Made out of PVC (Polyvinyl chloride) plastic, these things are a menace to the environment to make. I know there are misconceptions out there that say that cutting down “real” trees every year is detrimental to the environment, so getting a plastic tree that lasts for several years is the better option, but in reality it’s actually quite the opposite.

David Suzuki recommends getting a real tree, one grown locally without pesticides or herbicides, which helps to support local businesses and has low impact costs to the environment. Other options include renting a Christmas tree, which can actually be replanted, and you don’t need to worry about the disposal of the tree, or any negative impact on the environment. (for those of you interested in Metro Vancouver, you can check out this website). 

There are also some emerging non-traditional fake Christmas trees that aren’t made from harmful PVC materials. Check out examples in the pictures below taken from Country Living UK, and Happy Holidays!

By Nisha Manhas