When the king of the forests is called upon to become the king of the living room, a thorny question preoccupies the conscientious. Which Christmas tree is the most ecological between the natural and the artificial? A few tips so as not to pass up a tree.
The best option is the simplest: cut your own tree in a forest near your home. But self-service woodlots don’t run the streets. As soon as a tree is purchased, it is then necessary to analyze the entire life cycle of the product to find an answer, explains responsible consumption specialist Myriam Ertz.
“People think that the [sapin] natural is necessarily better. Or the artificial is better because it lasts longer. This is why it is important to do a life cycle analysis. It will determine, quantify precisely which of the two options is the best, ”says Mr.me Ertz.
All sources of pollution are thus taken into account, from the extraction of raw materials to abandonment in the landfill. “You should know that there are at least fifteen types of impacts. It goes from the acidification of the land to toxicity for humans, including the emission of greenhouse gases, ”explains the professor at UQAC.
On this account, the natural fir wins the prize for the most ecological choice, according to the analysis of the sustainable development consultancy Ellipsos. To arrive at this result, the researchers compared the pollution generated by a natural tree used only once with that generated by an artificial fir used six years in a row. “The average length of time an artificial tree is kept in North America is six years,” states the study published in 2009.
The Quebec consulting firm emphasizes that those who prefer artificial trees can have a good conscience by extending the life of their tree. “The threshold beyond which the artificial tree becomes a better option for its impact on climate change is 20 years”, evaluated the firm Ellipsos.
Other studies abound in the same direction. An analysis dated 2018 and published on behalf of the American Christmas Tree Association suggests that the useful life of the artificial tree is crucial from an ecological point of view. “The artificial tree purchased and used for at least 4.7 years generates less environmental impact than 4.7 real Christmas trees purchased for 4.7 years”, we conclude.
An examination of the question carried out by the firm PE Americas arrives at the same conclusion: the artificial tree is more ecological than its natural counterpart after 5 years of useful life.
Organic logs
Several tips can reduce the ecological footprint of your tree, regardless of its nature.
For lovers of synthetic trees, especially avoid trees made of PVC, “the nastiest of plastics”, advises the David Suzuki Foundation.
Those who prefer the natural must be careful to dispose of it when January comes. Most Quebec municipalities organize a collection of natural trees after the holiday season. Trees can be processed, including mulch, used in the manufacture of natural oil or sent for composting.
For artificial trees, the best way to get rid of them is to pay it forward. “Based on research, no more than 9% of plastics have been found to be recycled across Canada,” says Mme Ertz. Almost the majority of plastics are incinerated or end up in public landfills. It creates pollution. “
Since transporting natural fir trees by car is their “main source of impact” on the environment, according to the firm Ellipsos, the pick-your-own offered in certain fir forests reduces the pollution associated with its distribution.
You can also find producers of organic fir trees, but their number can be counted on the fingers of one hand in Quebec. “Before, organic was more for everything that is edible. But there, the ornamental also has an organic certification ”, observes the producer of fir trees and vice-president for the Association of the producers of Christmas trees of Quebec, Émilie Turcotte. Although she leans in favor of firs with real thorns, she stresses that consumers must think about aspects other than that of the environmental impact in their decision. “The cultivation of fir trees gives life to entire villages. We occupy the territory. “
Canada exported nearly $ 50 million worth of natural Christmas trees in 2017, according to the most recent data from Statistics Canada. Conversely, Canadians spent nearly $ 60 million that same year on artificial trees. Almost all of these false conifers come from China.
Myriam Ertz also notes that the environmental impacts of the Christmas tree do not weigh very heavily in the frenzy of holiday consumption. “Of course there is the tree, but there is also the food. Is it organic? Is it local? There is the type of gift that we give. There are people who are comfortable giving second hand gifts, for example. There are a lot of things to consider if you really want to be responsible in everything you do. “