The terms ‘Eco-Friendly’ and ‘Green’ have become more than just buzz words. They are decision makers in everything from the cars we buy, the products we use, and the activities we participate in. So if your hoping for an eco-friendly holiday there are a few things to keep in mind.
The first thing to bear in mind when going ‘Green’ is to know how you are going to use the item you are thinking of purchasing. Being green is more than just using organic products. It’s also about reusing the things you have or get each season. Take the holiday tree. Some would have you believe that the only truly ‘Green’ tree is a fresh tree. Unfortunately that is not the case. A fresh tree can only be used for a few weeks before it has to be either replanted or mulched. This takes energy and the tree itself takes a lot of water to keep it alive. An artificial tree requires no water and can be packed away and reused for several years which not only make it more cost efficient, but ‘eco-friendly’ as well.
The second thing to consider is the impact each item will have on the environment. If you’ve decided on a fresh tree there are two options, a cut tree or a potted tree. The majority of holiday trees sold in the US are cut trees. Both kinds of holiday trees require a lot of water and care, but more so they require fore-thought into how you plan to dispose of the tree once it has completed its decorative task. For cut trees this mean mulching them up or cutting them into fire wood. For a potted tree it means carting it to a special location, perhaps in your backyard, and replanting it. Though a potted tree is the greener of the two fresh tree options, it is also the hardest to find and most expensive. For those of us who are unfortunately allergic to such trees, neither is a workable option.
Artificial trees can be made in one of two ways. They can be made by melting new plastics and forming them around a steel infrastructure, or through recycled plastics and formed around a recycled steel infrastructure. You might be shocked to know, but most artificial trees on the market these days are made from up to 20% recycled materials and are less expensive than those made with only new materials. Artificial trees can last for a good many years; most over 10 years if stored and cared for properly. They require no water, no pruning, and very little effort to set-up and take down. They also require very little energy from year to year. If you consider the fuel costs alone between a real tree and an artificial you will see that over the long run it takes more fuel to have a fresh tree each year than one artificial tree. An Artificial trees footprint consists of the manufacturing process and the single trip to and from the store to purchase the artificial tree. The real tree has the saw it took to cut it down (as most Americans use cut trees over potted ones.) plus the fuel every year to pick up the tree, along with the fuel to take it to a recycler and have it broken down. (The boy scouts are a good resource for this!)
There is a third point to consider and that is lighting. Candles are the traditional lights and are still used in Europe; however they are dangerous especially on a real tree. Artificial lights these days are made with halogen bulbs and are far more energy efficient that even a candle. But if you want to take one more step toward a truly eco-friendly holiday, forgo the lights and use glass or metallic ornaments that reflect the lights in the room. Your tree won’t necessarily light up the dark, but with a nice fire in the hearth, it will be as festive as ever!
Whatever you choose to do this holiday season, be it ‘green’ or traditional, do it safely.
Best Wishes,
Kristi
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