PVC Christmas Trees Better for the Environment in Recent Carbon Footprint Study
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 16, 2010 — According to a recent study sponsored by the American Christmas Tree Association, an artificial Christmas tree made of vinyl or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) has a significantly smaller carbon footprint than a farm-grown Christmas tree.
The study, conducted by sustainability firm PE Americas, analyzed and compared each stage of the life cycle of natural Christmas trees from seedling through commercial farming, cultivation, harvesting, and transport, and compared it with the manufacturing and overseas transport of artificial trees, from “cradle to grave” over a 10-year period. The study indicated that annual consumption of fossil fuel to transport trees from tree farms to tree lots and consumers’ homes is significantly greater than purchasing an artificial tree that is used for 10 years or more.
Lustrous PVC Christmas trees also provide holiday decorators significant savings over the annual purchase of farm-grown Christmas trees. Based on a 10-year analysis by the ACTA, the purchase of a single, PVC Christmas tree costs 70 percent less than the purchase of 10 farm-grown Christmas trees over the same period. If the PVC tree is used more than 10 seasons, the savings can be even greater.
Jami Warner, ACTA Executive Director, said, “Artificial Christmas trees come in many options and prices. Financial experts are recommending that cost-conscious families consider buying goods that can be re-used, and artificial Christmas trees fit the bill.”
Warner noted they “may cost a bit extra initially, but the savings made up over time can be substantial.”
Man-made trees have come a long way since the garish aluminum ones of the 1960s. Today’s choices in artificial trees are more lifelike than ever, often named after and resembling real tree species, in a variety of styles and sizes, sometimes including polyethylene in the branches for optimum realism.
Vinyl trees are durable, easy to assemble and take down, and need no maintenance throughout the season. They don’t leave pesky pine needles on the floor or leak sap, do not need to be watered, which can damage floors and carpets, will not have unsightly bare spots, and do not bring chemical residue from pesticides into the home. The branches are resistant to fading, and crush resistant to keep their shape year after year.
In addition, PVC trees have fire retardant properties, and are approved by the National Fire Protection Association, which reports more than 200 home structure fires annually began with natural Christmas trees, causing an annual average of 24 civilian fire deaths and more than $13-million in damage.
Many who are allergic to terpene (the substance found in the oil or sap of natural trees), microscopic mold spores, pollen, or dust, or who suffer from asthma, have determined artificial trees are a healthier option.
The American Christmas Tree Association states artificial trees use an extremely high quality vinyl that is chemically and mechanically stable and does not affect human health, and that vinyl is a safe plastic under normal conditions of use.
Moreover, artificial Christmas trees are made of millions of pounds of recycled vinyl, and manufacturers of artificial trees can recycle scrap vinyl right within their own factories.
Some trees are pre-lit, have a frosted look, and are designed for outdoor use. Christmas Lights Etc. offers outdoor trees that stand up to 50-feet tall, including the Giant Everest, its branch needles made of high-grade commercial vinyl that quickly snap back into place when bent or pressed. Its trees are used at town center squares, parks, zoos, office complexes, schools, churches, and other commercial buildings around the country.
Holiday celebrants who want to go rogue can buy vinyl trees in white, red, hot pink, lime green, and gothic black, and also as half-trees sliced down the middle, upside-down, and slim trees for those with limited space.
Greg Bocchi, President of The Vinyl Institute, noted, “Once consumers switch to a vinyl tree, they rarely go back. The savings in time, cost, and effort, as well as health and safety concerns, are convincing arguments for purchasing a vinyl Christmas tree, and then repackaging it and storing it for the next holiday season.”
The American Christmas Tree Association is a non-profit organization whose mission is to educate the public with factual data to help consumers make intelligent decisions about Christmas trees.
For more information, go to www.christmastreeassociation.org, www.christmastreeforme.com, and www.christmaslightsetc.com.
The Vinyl Institute represents the leading manufacturers involved in the production of PVC vinyl in the United States, and promotes the value of PVC and vinyl products to society.
For more information, contact:
Jeffrey B. Palmer
Director of Marketing & Communications
The Vinyl Institute
(571) 970-3327
jpalmer@vinylinfo.org
Also go to: www.vinylindesign.com, www.vinylinfo.org, and www.achievegreen.net.