Last year, I cut down my own Christmas tree for the first time. I have nine acres behind an old farmhouse in Vermont, mostly planted with Douglas fir, red spruce, and eastern white pine. So one day, when a friend came to visit, we went back and selected a small red spruce, cut it down with a power chainsaw, brought it indoors, and set it up in the living room. It was a minimalist tree, a little Charlie Brown. And I loved it. (Wait, is that a spruce? I don’t remember. It might be a Douglas fir.)
Anyway, it was the most sustainable, organic, non-toxic, and rewarding Christmas tree I’ve ever had. But, of course, most people today cannot cut down the Christmas tree in their own backyard. That’s sparked debate about what’s best as a holiday tree for people with chemical sensitivities, asthma, and chronic illnesses. A plastic tree that leaches endocrine disruptors? A real Christmas tree sprayed with pesticides, or a real Christmas tree whose pine scent causes a reaction? What else?
Let’s settle this debate once and for all. Or for now. (Because we’re always happy to come back and update these articles as new information arises!)
Plastic Christmas trees and endocrine disruptors
All of Amazon’s popular fake Christmas trees are made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Go and see! I’m actually surprised they still use PVC, as it’s well known to be the most toxic type of plastic.
Michael Shade, director of consumer-centered campaigns at the US non-profit advocacy group Toxic Free Future, told me last year in an interview with Mongabay. “They are often loaded with toxic witchcraft additives, from phthalates to flame retardants to organotins to bisphenol A.”
Vinyl chloride is associated with an increased risk of liver, brain, and lung cancer, as well as lymphoma and leukemia. And while the U.S. vinyl industry has successfully reduced the amount of vinyl chloride that offgases and leaches from PVC, we don’t know where the PVC used in Amazon’s Christmas trees came from. . If it’s made in China, there’s no guarantee of safety at all. And there is simply no safe level of exposure to vinyl chloride.
Second, PVC almost always contains phthalates. An estimated 90% of all phthalates are used to soften vinyl plastics, and some researchers estimate that up to 40% of the weight of plastic products can be phthalates, which can easily leach. told me there was. Phthalates are endocrine disruptors (hormone-disrupting chemicals) that are associated with reproductive birth defects, infertility, behavioral problems in children, and other reproductive and developmental harm.
Finally, there is no safe and responsible way to dispose of a plastic Christmas tree. PVC cannot be recycled, and its additives can contaminate groundwater if it is sent to a landfill. When incinerated, dioxins, which are highly toxic chemicals, are produced and released into the atmosphere.
However, IKEA sells fake Christmas trees that use polypropylene and recycled PET plastic instead of PVC, so that might be a good option.
real christmas tree and insecticide
Real Christmas trees can be composted or used to create habitat in lakes and forests.
In fact, a Christmas tree farm can be a very sustainable land use, better than mowing fallow fields for hay or growing traditional crops like corn or soybeans, and much more than a golf course. Excellent. The trees grow over approximately 10 years, providing habitat for migratory birds and allowing beneficial native plants such as milkweed to flourish along the edges. One North Carolina farmer said he saw “deer, rabbits, pygmy owls, bears, coyotes and cougars chasing elk feeding in the fields” during the winter.
Unfortunately, purchasing a traditional Christmas tree can introduce toxic chemicals into your home. Less than 1% of Christmas trees are grown organically without the use of pesticides or herbicides.
This is because many producers spray insecticides against weevils and other pests. Southern states appear to be worse off in this regard, especially as the climate warms further north, where pest problems are increasing. Apparently it’s very difficult to have a large Christmas tree farm in the North Carolina mountains without spraying pesticides to kill the bugs. Christmas tree farms in western North Carolina spray their trees with bifenthrin or another pyrethroid insecticide in late September, a month before harvest, according to North Carolina Extension.
According to North Carolina State University, the product is based on a natural insecticide produced from chrysanthemum flowers and has been evaluated as safe for indoor and human use, including pet sprays, human lice killers, and mosquito repellents. It is also used in products made by The EPA has declared it safe to use pyrethroids on vegetables and fruits the day before harvest. That means if you’ve eaten traditional cilantro recently, you’re exposed to more cilantro than if you brought a Christmas tree into your home. North Carolina State University compares exposure through Christmas trees to eating non-organic cabbage.
However, small farms in the Northeast and Northwest seem to be able to operate successfully without using pesticides and choosing integrated techniques. Elysian Fields, located within 30 minutes of my home in Vermont, became the first certified organic Christmas tree farm of its size in Vermont in 2017. The good news is that overall pesticide use decreased by 21% from 2013 to 2018, and experts agree. By the time it reaches your home, there should be minimal pesticide residue on the tree.
Herbicides are also a concern, and many Christmas tree farms use glyphosate to control weeds around the tree, especially when the tree is young. Alternatives include grazing sheep between trees, laying down mulch or cover crops, and weeding by hand or using machinery. Alternatively, you can use other herbicides, as recommended by Michigan State University Extension. However, once the tree is a few years old, herbicide control becomes less necessary. Still, Beyond Pesticides warns that trees can take up glyphosate and release it into the sap and water around their roots, potentially putting children and pets who drink water from the basin at risk. .
So if you’re concerned about pesticides and herbicides, try to find an organic, spray-free Christmas tree farm near you. Some farms require you to pick it up and take a beautiful day trip to enjoy hot cocoa on-site. (Same as apple picking, but make it Christmas!) Some require you to pre-order your tree. Some companies bring the trees to your local tree lot, while others sell them online. Either way, it will be the coziest and loveliest Christmas tree experience ever.
Alternative Christmas tree for people who don’t like pines
I recently learned that a dear friend of mine is allergic to pine. If you can’t tolerate the pine-like smell of wood, there are other options, such as wooden Christmas trees or driftwood Christmas trees. If you need a sturdy tree to hang decorations on, these are a good choice.
Or you can create your own. My mom likes to cut giant spirals out of paper and hang them from the ceiling, and Pinterest always has some ideas for making paper Christmas trees.
conclusion
If you are used to non-organic produce, a good option is to go to your local tree farm to find real trees.
But if you’re into organic grocery stores and farmers markets, it can be beneficial to look for Christmas trees from non-spray or organic farms.
Also, if you are allergic to pine or pine scents, consider purchasing a wooden tree, making a paper tree, or purchasing a non-PVC fake tree.
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