Plastic nature: The irony of fake plants in our homes
The satire behind the artificial plant culture
Nature. Green. Serenity. Artificial indoor plants. A beautiful way to add a symbolical piece of nature in our pristine houses while ironically destroying the environment at the same time.
The social media trend of flaunting indoor plants has skyrocketed since the last few years. Every home makeover is unfinished without the touch of a plant — big or small. Succulents are often topping the list due to the minimal needs.
For aesthetics and background, you will find every other influencer or YouTuber turning their homes into mini jungles.
It wouldn’t strike us a surprise when this trend follows out from the digital screens to the living space of our houses.
The raging trend of flaunting indoor plants everywhere in the house is quite persistent. Living space, check. Sleeping space, check. Cooking space, check. Pooping space, check. Under the table, above the table. On the wall, off the wall. EVERYWHERE.
The trend has created a yearning for all the home enthusiasts for wanting more plants in the house — a positive step towards our combat against climate change, perhaps!
Plants have lasting benefits to your health, no rocket science there. It makes our homes lively, cosy and a little more oxygenated that our polluted outdoor environments. Plus, you get a sense of being closer to nature and all the other possible benefits you can read on any other blog.
The only plant which doesn’t ‘spark joy’ as Marie Kondo says, is a ‘plant that is fake’.
Let’s be honest, as beautiful indoor plants look and feel, they are not affordable. With the trend embracing every nook and cranny of influential celebrity houses, buying real plants from nurseries or shops may cost you a bomb. More if you live in the concrete urban jungle.
Buying a five-feet tall monstera for our living space could leave a five-feet deep hole your pockets.
Not to forget, similar to us human, plants have needs. But unlike us, it thrives on basic needs — time, water, sunlight and soil nutrients.
Unfortunately for many of us, we firstly — don’t have the big bucks to spend on these plants; and secondly — do not have sufficient time and energy to invest in the caretaking of a plant.
Hence we succumb to an easier solution — buying an artificial plant.
Artificial plants in living spaces is not a new concept, and it has been in the market for the longest time.
Historians date the advent of the concept back to 1500 years ago. It is believed that the Chinese were the first to use artificial flora made out of silk.
The Romans followed the footsteps and crafted flowers made of wax.
Silk flowers made their way in Italian and French Markets during the 12th century. The English and Americans markets welcomed the trend soon after.
My parents used to own plastic plants in my younger days. They would only take it out while having guests over, or if it was a festive occasion. Coming from a low-economical background, for them, it was a prized possession.
The quality and outlook of those plants were often cheap-looking. But over time, as our industry and market have developed, the plants we currently get in the shopping markets look incredibly realistic in appearance. Acutely life-like.
These plants are affordable — sometimes only a quarter the price compared to real plants we get in the nursery. The reason behind their affordability being the mass-produced commercial numbers by the bigger conglomerates in countries like China — which offers less capital and labour costs.
The artificial plant doesn’t require any care. You can pop it in a corner, and it will brighten your room — just like a real plant. Only barring the few drawbacks — its artificiality and inability to generate oxygen. You wouldn’t see it grow and bear the fruit of your tender care — which is perhaps not a bad deal to tread for the price you paid. For some, it may as well be more convenient. It’s a modern-day practice to hoard things which barely serves any purpose.
In an individual scenario, the drawbacks may as well be limited to ones listed above. But a more significant, much broader concern lies in the constituents of these artificial plants — plastic.
One of the largest pollutant in our environment today, plastic is the main component of these products.
According to websites like Target and Kmart, most of the artificial plants are made of PE, also known as polythene. The other materials being thermocol (Polystyrene), ceramics, foam, and metal.
Polythene — the main component of these fake plant — is the primarily used form of plastic in the world.
Although not single-use, the decomposition of these products takes the same amount of time as any other plastic products.
A research conducted in 2018 said that artificial plants might also act as a sink for particulate matter polluting the indoor environment.
The artificial plants could also release volatile organic compound and are potential dust magnets. These plants, when inserted into “non-living “substrate” lack the advantage of soil bacteria that can break down any biodegradable parts of the trapped particles, which includes most of the dangerous chemicals.”
The shelf life of these plants is also minimal. It is part of our living space only until it emits its vibrant colours. When the artificial dyes start to faint due to the atmospheric conditions, it will be discarded in the nearest bin.
But what happens after the trends die, and are no longer considered cool? When minimalism takes over, we keep only the things we need? Not want, just need — the bare minimum.
Thousands of plastic materials will end up in landfills, in the stomachs of your terrestrial animals. Animals will feed on the shiny leave; the only difference it would be plastic. Completely inedible.
Imagine you being excited to cut your birthday cake. It looks like chocolate ganache — your favourite flavour. With the knife in your hand, you can’t wait to devour it. As soon as you draw the knife closer to the cake, it hits the surface — imagine the woe of cutting a plastic cake.
On the brighter side, at least it wouldn’t end up in your stomach.
Moral of the story — Do not fall prey to the trend culture, plastic plants are plastic, despite its 99.9% realistic outlook.
Opt for a real plant wherever possible, if not, settle for a nature painting. Not buying that decor artificial plant wouldn’t be that bad.
The Christmas Conundrum
The fuss over the internet about Christmas trees has been brewing for a while.
Although the Christmas conundrum may share the origins with the artificial plant debate, they somehow diverge on two different paths going forward.
One is an occasional festivity. The usage of the artificial tree is repeated annually and for an extended period. On the other hand, the artificial plants have no religious sentiments and are used in a larger number compared to a single Christmas tree.
There has been substantial debate over how the artificial trees are better for the environment since we avoid cutting down trees, and not contribute to the raging deforestation issue around the globe.
In contrast, a study by Canadian consultancy firm Ellipsos showed that an artificial tree could take more than 20 years to be more sustainable than a real one — considering the accounts of expended resources and greenhouse gas emissions.
An average 2–2.5 metres tall tree between 10–15 years will generate a carbon footprint of about 3.5 kilograms carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). If sent to landfill, the carbon footprint is close to about 16 kilograms.
Whereas, an artificial plant of the same height has about 40 kilograms worth of carbon footprint based on its composite materials. But the longevity and re-use of these artificial trees for up to 12 years, could help match the carbon footprint of a natural tree.
Ditching the ‘re-use factor’, using a natural tree could be a more sustainable option when it comes to the much-awaited holiday season.
For instance — here in Australia, the trees Pinus radiata are explicitly farmed for Christmas.
Each year, new seedlings replace the cut-down trees.
About 700,000 hectares of Pinus radiata are planted in industrial style. Pinus radiata is also the species planted for timber in the country.
The trees are more beneficial to the environment given their carbon fixation nature — converting carbon dioxide into organic matter through photosynthesis.
These Christmas trees also help remove aerosols, filter air and provide habitats for wildlife. The local production also contributes to a smaller carbon footprint — minimising ‘Christmas tree kilometres.’
Plus, there are entirely recyclable and biodegradable.
The same applies to countries like United States, Germany and Canada — the largest annual producers of Christmas trees.
In a nutshell, laying off the artificial plants is always a good idea.
