What kind of Christmas tree should I put up for the New Year - a real or an artificial one, and which one is more environmentally friendly?

Anything we do has an impact on the environment. This is a proven fact, and the festive décor at home, with its Christmas tree, is no exception.

"Every year," writes abc57.com, "before the winter holidays, society actively discusses the question: what kind of Christmas tree to put up, real or artificial, and which is less harmful to the planet's 'health'? We decided to put an end to this debate and talked to Chris Neggers, Director of Forest Conservation at the Nature Conservancy of Indiana, about "New Year's ecology".

A real Christmas tree is always better

"At first glance," says Chris, "it may seem that an artificial Christmas tree is a more environmentally friendly option because it is used year after year. In fact, there are more disadvantages to this solution than advantages."

According to the Nature Conservancy (USA), Americans buy about 10 million artificial Christmas trees every year. More than 80% of these products come from China, which leads to an increase in carbon dioxide emissions during transportation, not to mention environmental damage during production.

And then there's the issue of recycling artificial trees. "These Christmas trees are made of plastic," comments Neggers, which takes a long time to decompose. "Often, when the service life of such a 'Christmas tree' expires, it ends up in a landfill and remains there for decades before it decomposes completely."

In addition, Chris believes that refusing to use artificial trees is not only an environmentally friendly choice, but also a sound economic decision. After all, Christmas tree farmers pay taxes and typically plant 1 to 3 trees for every one they cut down, keeping the forest growing and thriving.

"Plus, managed forests can absorb as much carbon as natural forests," says Neggers. "So don't feel guilty about buying a real Christmas tree, you're helping the environment and the economy by ensuring its growth."

Reminder: If you decide to buy a real Christmas tree or any other plant to decorate your home, don't forget to dispose of it in an environmentally friendly way, such as composting, after the holidays.