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Transcript
It's the ultimate Christmas decoration and British people buy millions of them every year. But what impact does the Christmas tree have on the environment and should you go fake or fir? We're putting the Christmas tree to the test.
First up, the natural tree. Around seven million Christmas trees are bought in the UK each year, with roughly three-quarters being grown here. It takes up to 12 years to grow a typical Christmas tree. During this time it has a positive impact on the environment because it absorbs carbon from the atmosphere and nitrogen from the soil. But once the tree is chopped down, it slowly starts releasing emissions back into the atmosphere. Transporting a tree can contribute to its overall carbon footprint, so buying a tree that's locally grown can help keep its carbon footprint down. But the biggest potential environmental impact for a natural Christmas tree comes from its disposal. If your tree ends up in landfill, its carbon footprint will be a lot higher. That's because organic matter which decomposes away from oxygen produces methane, a greenhouse gas which contributes to global warming. It's much better if your tree gets incinerated – burnt – or composted. That can reduce its carbon footprint by up to 80 per cent compared with landfill. You can find out from your local council what happens to your Christmas tree once you throw it out and, of course, if you have the space, you can buy a potted Christmas tree, which you can keep over the next year and use again next Christmas.
So what about a plastic Christmas tree? Here, the biggest impact on the environment comes from production. Artificial trees are usually made out of a combination of metal and plastic, the production and processing of which can significantly increase the tree's carbon footprint. And most artificial trees are made in China, which means they have to be packaged and shipped to the UK. The good news is that you can reuse a plastic tree. So how many years would you have to keep it so that it has a lower environmental impact than buying a natural tree? Experts think it's about ten years, but that's a rough estimate that depends on a number of different factors such as the size of the tree. If you do decide to throw out your plastic tree, it's most likely to end up in landfill, as it's not currently recyclable.
Overall, your choice of Christmas tree has a relatively small impact on your annual carbon footprint. To give you a better idea, driving 12 miles in an average-size petrol car produces as much greenhouse gas emissions as buying a natural tree. Or 54 miles if that tree ends up in landfill. If you get an artificial tree, that's roughly equivalent to driving 135 miles.
Of course, there are other factors you might want to consider when you buy a Christmas tree. But in terms of environmental impact, reuse for artificial trees and disposal for natural trees are just two factors you might want to keep in mind.
© BBC
I have a plastic Christmas tree from 14 years.
It looks like as new. I thinks that I will keep it for many years.
But in my garden I planted 4 lemon trees to reduce my carbon footprint
I didn't know that artificial trees have such negative impact...
I always felt sorry for natural tree, when the time to throw it away had come.
So we bought an artificial tree and use it for almost 15 years)
The boxes in Task 1 only accept one answer , not four. Can it be fixed? Thank you!
Hello Roxana,
When you want to add another sentence to a group, you have to click or press on the small white hand at the side of the words already in the box. If you don't do this, then the new words will stay but the old words will disappear from the box.
It's a little difficult to explain, so please let me know if you'd like me to explain it again.
All the best,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team
What about a third option? To celebrate Christmas AND help the environment, just plant a tree. Then you can always keep an artificial one at home and decorate it, even better if it isn't made of plastic but perhaps recycled wood...or fabric!
I would buy definitely an artificial tree, because it is reusable and recyclable. We can use them every year and at the end recycle it by turning to other product.
Well, in my country we used to buy an artificial trees. If I had the choice, I think I would use a natural tree. because it is more beneficial to the enviroment.
Which type of Christmas tree would you choose and why?
I'm not celebrating Christmas if I were you I would choose a really small tree and I always put it in my house with decorations. it is good for our environment
After reading the text, I has been convict to buy a fake,, because, first of all, there is no fir in the country I live right now, and I can save money when reusing the plastic Christmas tree during 10 years. I decided to keep the plastic Christmas tree I bought last year, so that I can reuse it at the end of this year.
Although it doesn't have a great impact in the environment , I'd choose a natural tree because it produces less carbon emissions than I artificial one, and in order to generate a lower footprint I'll bury it.