It seems that every time I am asked whether we use fake or real trees no matter what my response is it comes across wrong!  I am quickly judged on my answer and what seemed an innocent question quickly turns into an interrogation.  We at Holiday Assistants use artificial (fake!) trees, but we are more than happy to decorate real trees purchased by our clients.  Offended?  Let me outline some of our considerations for you.

Here’s why fake trees are environmentally friendly:

- Most fake trees can be used for 10 or more years.  Just be gentle with unpacking and repacking them and treat them like you want them to last!

- Sure, most are made in Asian factories, but if you are willing to pay more you can find artificial trees made from recycled materials.  Better yet, save money and buy a used one at a thrift store, garage sale or E-Bay!

- Most people pack the trees away year after year in the same box they purchased it in.  There are lots of stores selling fancy tree bags and slick tree storage containers, but if you want to reduce your carbon footprint, just use the same box you purchased your tree in.  The only time you see your container is twice a year when you unpack and repack the tree!

- Safety!  Fake trees are flame-retardant.

- Less mess.  With fake trees you don’t have needles shedding and it never dries out.

- Convenience.  No driving around each year to evaluate the various tree lots and taking time comparing prices, negotiating a deal and wrapping it up and driving it away on your rooftop.

- The impact on the environment is ultimately smaller.  Artificial trees – recycled or not – are produced in factories, shipped to distributors, shipped to stores and in the end purchased and taken home by the consumer.  The consumer then has the responsibility to re-use the tree for as long as possible and recycle the tree if possible.  The majority of live trees are farmed after 7-10 years and require maintenance over much of that period!  Land is cleared, seedlings are planted and transplanted, farmers often use fertilizers to speed up growth, chemical herbicides are used to decrease shrub growth, insecticides are used to combat pests, and then there are plenty of trees that due to cosmetic reasons never make it to tree lots – and there are all the ones that don’t get sold!  After that the recycling process requires that the trees are picked up or consumers drop them off somewhere where they are then transported to where they will be recycled, etc, etc.

Here’s why we appreciate that our clients prefer real trees:

- Many clients involve their families in going out to the lots to select and take home a tree.  This can be a great bonding experience for the family.

- Our clients feel more appreciation towards their real tree and enjoy its natural fragrance.  We know this creates a special ambiance for them that enhances their holiday season.

- We know our clients will ultimately recycle their tree in one of the many tree recycling programs throughout the Seattle area.

Another consideration is potted real Christmas trees.  If you have space around your home to plant the tree after the holidays, this is an excellent option!  You can decorate the tree year after year and it lasts as a lifetime memory of the year you bought it.

Ultimately, it is up to the consumer what decision is best for their family and the world we all live in.  A Christmas tree is just one decision in a collective decision that has a greater impact on the environment.  After all, we all need to be careful to re-use/reduce decorations, wrapping paper and even gifts to decrease our impact.

We welcome your feedback and opinions!  Feel free to send us comments!

Warm wishes,

Heather