Every year in December many people wonder if it's more earth-friendly to get a live Christmas tree or an artificial one. Some may feel guilty about cutting down a tree. Yet, it's important to remember that most trees have not been taken from a forest, instead they've been farmed on land that often is too poor for other crops. While growing, each of those trees can absorb more than a ton of CO2 over its lifetime while keeping the land from eroding. In US alone, about 30 million real trees are sold each year. Those trees offset a lot of carbon.

Many farms offer holiday fun for children, so take them along and make a day out of it - pick a tree, eat gingerbread, ride a train. And don't forget to pick up the groceries on your way home to cut down on driving.

While home, make sure to water your tree enough to make it last.

When the holidays are over, recycle your tree properly. Remove all ornaments and tinsel and either compost it (needles make wonderful mulch in your garden) or find a local recycling program near you - make sure you find out about it early to make sure you don't miss the date. Living potted trees are usually picked up and planted by the provider of the tree.

Artificial trees are made from mainly non-renewable plastics, often containing PVC. They are non-recyclable and non-biodegradable, meaning their eventual disposal will have a significant negative impact to the environment. They are mostly made in China, so getting them to your home is more fuel-consuming than getting a tree from a local nursery for many  years.

Enjoy the holidays guilt-free and get a live tree.