| China is the world's biggest manufacturer of Christmas | | | | for a monthly salary of $100 to $125. The floors are |
| products. China exports nearly 2 billion US dollars worth | | | | concrete and little money has been invested into |
| of Christmas products per year with more than half | | | | proper work tables, work table height, etc. Many |
| going to the United States. Most of it comes from | | | | workers are available as they come in from the |
| Shenzhen in South China's Guangdong province.There | | | | provinces where they farmed for much less. |
| are over 3,000 factories in Shenzhen producing artificial | | | | Most of these artificial Christmas trees and Christmas |
| Christmas trees. Christmas lights, ornaments and | | | | wreaths are made from metals and plastics. The |
| Christmas wreaths are also made here. These items | | | | plastic material used predominantly is PVC - polyvinyl |
| are all made from plastic and metals. | | | | chloride. When PVC is manufactured it creates and |
| Shenzhen is on the coast about an hours drive from | | | | disperses dioxin into the environment which is one of |
| Hong Kong. Before 1985, most of these products | | | | the most toxic man made chemicals. Dioxins enter the |
| were mass produced in Taiwan and Hong Kong | | | | food chain through air or water and accumulate in |
| where the labor was cheap and ports were easily | | | | fatty tissues of animals and humans where they can |
| accessible. Taiwan and Hong Kong were not under | | | | cause cancer, damage the immune system and impair |
| the strict communist rule of China. By 1985, Taiwan | | | | children's development. Also PVC is often stabilized |
| and Hong Kong had developed into huge exporters | | | | with lead which is a carcinogen and also associated |
| and their local labor costs had increased. They started | | | | with neurological damage. Lead is used in PVC |
| looking for a place nearby to ship materials to for | | | | because it makes the plastic more flexible which is |
| assembly by cheaper workers. At the same time | | | | beneficial in the wires and cords. It is also used to |
| China was moving away from communism and setting | | | | stabilize the color. Over time the lead in the PVC |
| up special economic zones. These zones welcomed | | | | product can disintegrate into lead laced dust. |
| foreign investment and industrial parks were setup to | | | | Most people purchase artificial Christmas trees and |
| attract them. Consequently, Hong Kong and | | | | wreaths because they make less mess, they're |
| Taiwanese companies started producing Christmas | | | | cheaper over time and convenient. Consumers should |
| products in Shenzhen. The growth in exports from | | | | be aware of the dangers of the materials used in |
| Shenzhen over the last 20 years has been huge. | | | | these products and the environmental damage done |
| About 80% of the factories are owned by Hong Kong | | | | when these materials are manufactured as well as the |
| companies and the other 20% by companies from | | | | conditions of the workers producing them. Purchasing |
| Taiwan. | | | | fresh Maine balsam fir Christmas wreaths is the |
| Worker conditions in these factories are poor. The | | | | environmentally friendly choice and it sure smells a lot |
| workers toil 12 hours a day six to seven days a week | | | | better than plastic too. |