The holiday season is upon us, which means millions of people across the country are decking the halls and putting up Christmas trees. And of course comes the debate: are you team real or team fake?
Instead of cutting down a tree every holiday season, many people take the artificial route with a tree they can reuse year after year as a way to have less of an impact on the environment.
But as it turns out, artificial trees are not as eco-friendly as they might seem at first glance.
While fake trees can be used year after year, most people only use them for approximately six years before they're thrown away. That's not nearly long enough to balance out the carbon footprint that plastic trees will leave once they're discarded, according to Andy Finton, senior conservation ecologist for The Nature Conservancy in Massachusetts.
"It would take 20 years for the carbon balance to be about equivalent," Finton told CNN. "If the artificial trees are used for a longer lifespan, that balance changes."
Artificial trees non-recyclable and contain non-biodegradable plastics and possible metal toxins such as lead, meaning they will sit in a landfill for centuries after disposal.
Aside from difficulties with the disposal of artificial trees, their production can contribute to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions and waste due to the energy-intensive processes involved in manufacturing, packaging and shipping.
Roughly 80% of artificial trees are produced and shipped from China, according to the National Christmas Tree Association, which creates an even larger carbon footprint due to the extensive transportation required to bring them to the United States.
On the other hand, cutting down healthy trees isn't nearly as damaging to the environment as you might think.
Most trees come from Christmas tree farms and are planted with the sole purpose of eventually being harvested, according to the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services.
Real trees typically take around seven years to reach maturity before they're ready to be harvested. During this time, they actively absorb carbon dioxide — a major contributor to global warming — from the atmosphere as they grow.
There's also a sustainability factor. For every tree purchased, one to three seedlings are planted in its place, according to the National Christmas Tree Association.
When it comes to disposal, real Christmas trees reign supreme. They can be simply disposed like yard waste to be composted. Many communities also offer recycling programs that allow residents to drop off their Christmas trees to be chipped into mulch, which is often repurposed for use in local parks, gardens or landscaping projects.
Buying a real tree also has an economic benefit, since most trees are grown at nearby businesses.
"What we're doing by purchasing a natural Christmas tree is supporting local economies, local communities, local farmers," Finton said. "When a tree grower can reap economic benefits from their land, they're less likely to sell it for development and less likely to convert it to other uses."
With all the pros and cons, the data indicates that Americans favor artificial trees. According to a recent survey by Statista, 72% of Americans plan to put up a Christmas tree this year. Of those, 46% are using artificial trees while 26% are using fresh-cut, real trees.