Traditionally, Friends of Parkdale have paid for crackers to accompany Christmas dinner in school. This year, we have decided against this on sustainability grounds. As a school signed up to Kids Against Plastic (https://kidsagainstplastic.co.uk/), this feels like the responsible thing to do.
We love a cracker! However, unless we go for the more expensive, more sustainable ones, or make ‘home made’ ones, the environmental cost is high for a passing moment of pleasure.
Instead, FoP will be converting the amount they would have spent on crackers into a donation to our ‘improving play’ fund, which should have a much longer lasting impact on fun for the children.
If this has sparked your curiosity about crackers, there’s plenty about them online, summarised below…
The environmental cost of UK Christmas crackers is high, generating significant single-use plastic and non-recyclable waste from plastic toys, packaging, glitter, and foil, with over 100 million crackers potentially discarded annually into landfill, leading to calls for reusable or eco-friendly alternatives with sustainable materials and no plastic.Key Environmental Impacts:
- Plastic Waste: Small plastic toys and their inner packaging are major contributors to landfill, with one box potentially creating more plastic waste than a bottle.
- Non-Recyclable Materials: Glitter, foil, and plastic elements often render the entire cracker unrecyclable, leading to disposal in landfills.
- Packaging: Outer packaging frequently includes non-recyclable plastic windows, adding to the waste stream.
- Resource Consumption: The production and shipping of millions of crackers, many from Asia, use significant energy and resources.
- “Silver Fulminate“: The chemical strip for the traditional “bang” often contains heavy metals, requiring removal before recycling.
Solutions & Alternatives:
- Eco-Crackers: Brands offer crackers made from FSC-certified paper, using compostable or reusable gifts, natural fibres, and recyclable packaging.
- DIY Crackers: Making your own allows for control over materials, using sustainable paper and meaningful, non-plastic fillings.
- Reusable Crackers: Fill-your-own options with fabric or durable cardboard, reusable ribbons, and recyclable snaps (or no snaps) reduce waste.
- Responsible Recycling: If using traditional crackers, remove foil, glitter, and plastic elements before putting the cardboard parts in recycling bins.