Christmas tree alternatives

Tuesday, December 17, 2013, 3:09 PM -

Putting up the Christmas tree is a family tradition for many, but sometimes people have a tough time deciding between real or artificial.

The Ontario Forestry Association says that real trees are definitely an environmentally-friendly choice. 

“Artificial Christmas trees are a plastic product so that really is a petroleum based product,” Carla Grant of the the Ontario Forestry Association told The Weather Network last December.

Grant added that although it may seem like buying an artificial tree is better for the environment because it can be re-used, that's not always the correct assumption.

“People always think re-use is the way to go, but consumer studies show that people are replacing their trees every five to seven years. So when you think about that they end up in the landfill and those trees are never going to degrade in landfills,” explains Grant. 

Over 500 farmers in Canada grow millions of trees each year for the Christmas season. 

“And even though people are cutting down trees ... there's thousands and thousands that are still here. Throughout the year they're providing habitat for animals, they're improving our air, they're improving our water, so they really do provide a role,” says Grant. 

Real trees are also 100 per cent biodegradable, so once they're taken down after the holidays they are mulched and used in municipal parks in the spring.

But if you're still on the fence, here are a few Christmas tree alternatives that you might be able to construct with materials you already own.

Take a look at these 10 creative & cost-efficient alternatives:

LIGHT SHOW

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BOOK WORM

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