According to a new survey, almost half [46%] of all U.S. consumers plan to buy an artificial Christmas tree this year. That’s according to the global statistics portal Statista, which surveyed 1,050 respondents this fall from 18 to 80 years of age. Statista also revealed that roughly 1-in-4 [26%] people plan to buy a real one.
Steele’s Christmas Tree Farm Co-Owner Kevin Steele Sr. encourages people to enjoy the authentic holiday experience with a real tree. “You get to come out into the country and, you know, cut your tree especially at the “choose and cut” farm like we have. You’re out in the fresh air rolling hills in Washington Parish.”
The Christmas tree industry serves the 72% of Americans who plan to buy a tree. In fact, according to the Real Christmas Tree Board (RCTB), 83% of past real tree buyers say they’re “worth it” – regardless of price. Steele says artificial trees are made from PVC, which is difficult to recycle.
By contrast, real Christmas trees are a renewable resource. “Natural tree or the real tree, as we like to call it, it stabilizes the soil with its root system and it’s biodegradable.”
Steele says choosing a locally grown tree is a sustainable choice for the planet, while also creating memories. “It’s making memories is what it’s all about. That’s my theme for the last 45-years. You can buy a Christmas Tree just about anywhere but it’s the memories we’re creating.” Steele says real trees can be used for lumber, mulch and restoration projects.
For a sense of scale of the industry, there are approximately 25-30 million real Christmas trees sold in the U.S. every year, according to the National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA). The agency also states there are close to 15,000 farms growing Christmas Trees across every state in the U.S., with more than 100,000 people employed in the industry.
Some of the primary arguments in support of artificial Christmas trees are the cumulative cost and convenience, versus the yearly purchase of a real tree. The NCTA puts the average cost of a real one at $78, while the price of a fake tree was $104, based on 2018 data, and are easily reusable and you can buy them any time of year. Fake trees also require much less maintenance, helping avoid the need to water a real tree daily, along with sweeping and trimming.
Then there’s the task of getting the real tree into the home. Then, after the holidays, disposing of a real tree can involve either dragging it to the end of the driveway for garbage pick-up, or hauling the tree to a recycling center.
Finally, there is the risk of fire with a real tree. According to the lifestyle online magazine realsimple.com, most artificial Christmas trees are made with fire-resistant material, with some completely pre-lit, with custom colors, as well. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) says across the country from 2018 and 2022, there was an annual average of 155 home structure fires caused by Christmas trees. On average nationally, these fire resulted in a total of four civilian deaths, seven civilian injuries and $15 million in direct property damage each year. But the NFPA also points out that, “Overall, home Christmas tree fires don’t happen often – fires involving candles happen roughly 38 times more frequently in the U.S.”
