PVC Christmas Trees More Versatile, Leave Smaller Carbon Footprint
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Dec. 2, 2011 – Christmas tree manufacturers have focused on greater attention to detail and better performing accessories in hopes of another record-setting sales year with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or vinyl Christmas trees.
Brighter fiber-optic and LED lights are replacing incandescent lights in pre-lit Christmas trees, and thicker trees with denser needles and intricate touches of snow are aimed at making artificial trees even more realistic.
Artificial vinyl trees reached a record-setting 13 million in sales in 2010, with more than 50 million of them decking the halls and homes throughout the United States last year.
According to a study from the American Christmas Tree Association, an artificial tree 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 domestic and overseas transport of artificial trees, from “cradle to grave” over a 10-year period. Factoring in the water, pesticides, and energy required to grow, cut, and transport trees from tree farms to tree lots and consumers’ homes, the carbon footprint from a natural tree is significantly greater than purchasing an artificial tree that is used for 10 years or more.
Vinyl 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, vinyl Christmas tree costs 70 percent less than the purchase of 10 farm-grown Christmas trees over the same period. As vinyl trees last for more than 10 seasons, the savings can be even greater.
Man-made trees have come a long way since the 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.
Vinyl trees are durable, easy to assemble and take down, and need no maintenance throughout the season. They don’t leave 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, vinyl 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. As vinyl trees will not dry out or become a fire hazard, they can stay up longer and lengthen the Christmas season in a home.
Many who are allergic to mold spores, pollen, dust, or terpene (the substance found in the oil or sap of natural trees), or who suffer from asthma, have determined artificial trees are a healthier option. Mold can be a particular problem with live Christmas trees since they are harvested well in advance of the holidays and stored in a moist environment before coming into the home to again be stored in water.
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, with no danger of harmful emissions.
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.
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.
Some artificial Christmas tree manufacturers such as ChristmasTreeForMe.com and Treetime.com offer non-traditional holiday celebrants vinyl trees in white, red, hot pink, purple, teal, lime green, and gothic black, and upside-down, slim, and tabletop trees for those with limited space.
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.treetime.com, 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, and www.vinylinfo.org.