Green Christmas with real trees

CASEY residents are urged to put their presents under a real Christmas tree this year.
Buying a plastic Christmas tree leads to the emission of more than double the greenhouse gases than getting a natural Christmas tree, new analysis by sustainability experts has revealed.
Environment and Climate Change Minister Gavin Jennings said while both kinds of tree impacted on the environment in different ways, a real Christmas tree was better for the environment, according to Sustainability Victoria research.
“New Victorian analysis has found that the greenhouse gas emissions generated from a plastic tree are, in fact, up to more than 2.5 times more than of a cut tree,” Mr Jennings said.
“The majority of emissions from a plastic Christmas tree – around 85 per cent – come from the manufacturing process and materials, which include PVC, steel and in some cases, lead. Then, there are the emissions generated from packaging and transportation.”