That tall, proud pine is such an important centrepiece for Christmas, so getting it right is key. We wanted to know more, so we put on our detective hats and did a little digging. Here’s what we found:
Benefits of Fake Trees
-
No mess: Fake trees mean you won’t find stray needles hanging around on the floor - this may mean going synthetic is the better option for homes with curious pets or babies in search of a floor-bound snack. Plus, less cleaning up.
-
They’re less flammable: Dried out trees can catch fire more easily than fake ones - even if you go faux, though, we wouldn’t recommend any pyrotechnics at Christmas.
-
In the long term, it could work out cheaper: While you’ll have to shell out a bit more up front for a fake tree, if you bring it out every Christmas, you’ll save your some dosh over a few years.
Benefits of Real Trees
-
They’re better for the environment: It takes a lot of CO2 to produce a fake tree - Carbon Trust estimates that 2-metre artificial tree has a carbon footprint more than twice that of a real tree that ends up in landfill, and more than ten times if the real tree is burnt.
Fake trees are also made of non-recyclable, non-renewable, often toxic plastic. They’ll, end up in landfill and stay there for thousands of years. When it’s time to say goodbye to your Christmas tree, you have options: you can plant it, hand it over to a recycling program, or burn it on a lovely bonfire. We recommend the latter option asburning a real tree emits the carbon dioxide that it stored up when it was growing, neutralising its net increase. -
You can trim it to size: Can’t quite nudge your tree into your pokey London living room? No prob - just snip it, and it’ll fit.
-
They smell gorgeous: Fake trees are never going to have that musky, pine-y smells that sends sugarplums dancing in your head. That festive scent doesn’t just smell nice - they also have a positive effect on the mind. A 2007 study by scientists at Kyoto University found that the smell of pine can combat anxiety, stress, and depression. Plus, unless you really break the bank, fake trees usually look fake.
Remember: the most important thing is choosing a tree that suits your lifestyle, space, and budget. We recommend having a proper mull-over before taking the plunge - real or fake, you gotta go with what’s right for you. If you do choose to go down the real route, though, have a look at our Christmas trees - Nora and Fraser - offered with free delivery and all the trimmings you might want.
