What's greener? Real vs fake Xmas trees

Real

	Carbon footprint equals 3.13kg of CO2
	Fertilisers and pesticides can be used heavily in non-organic tree farms
	Absorbs nitrogen from the soil and CO2 and methane from the air during its 6-8 years of life
	Biodegradable, and has lower greenhouse gas emissions if composted rather than burned after Christmas

Fake

	Carbon footprint equals 18.6kg of CO2
	Made from non-renewable materials (polyvinylchloride [PVC], polypropylene [PP] and steel) which are difficult to separate for recycling so end up in landfill
	If you keep it for eight years or more, it has less environmental impact than eight live trees
	Convenient and easy to maintain

The verdict

Natural trees are the obvious green option – and nothing says Christmas like the smell of a freshly cut pine! Remember, try to buy local to save on transport costs – and if you want to light up your tree, consider using low energy or even solar-powered LED lights.

Another green option is to buy a live potted pine tree which can be brought inside and decorated during Christmas, then put outside for the rest of the year. And if that sounds too hard, remember that a fake tree is just as green if you can keep it for eight years or more!

Have an eco dilemma that needs expert advice? Email [email protected] with ‘My dilemma’ in the subject line, or write to Green Ideas, PO Box 47177, Ponsonby, Auckland 1144.