When it’s time to pick your Christmas tree, do you opt for a traditional Christmas tree or an artificial Christmas tree?

  On the one hand, artificial trees are made in Asia and shipped to the United States, which contributes to a major carbon footprint. Real trees, however, also contribute to carbon emissions due to the delivery to the farm, the drive from your house to purchase the tree, and the drive back with the tree.

  Former Christmas tree farm worker, junior Claire McNairy, explains, “I believe there is an environmental difference, but I’m all for a real tree. I like the full Christmas experience.”

  However, the difference in real versus artificial trees may not be a large gap. Both types of trees have their own reasons they’re better than the other option.

  A consulting firm in Montreal found that “an artificial tree would have to be reused for more than 20 years to be greener than buying a fresh-cut tree annually.”

  The gap in their environmental impact is minimal. Whether you’re getting a real or a fake tree, take extra steps with your lights and the disposal of the tree to diminish this impact.

  The lights on your tree can be changed to LED lights to reduce your carbon footprint. If you’re looking for a real tree, recycling it is an easy thing to do to limit the environmental impact.

  Sonoma Girl Scouts will be recycling Christmas trees the three Saturdays after Christmas. If you leave your tree outside they will recycle it for a small donation!