Diwali 2023: What are 'green crackers' and why are they eco-friendly

The green crackers were developed by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research - National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI) in 2019. (Representational image)

Diwali is just around the corner but owing to the plummeting air quality levels, traditional firecrackers have been banned in several cities with governments allowing the use of only environmentally-friendly green crackers.

Here’s all you need to know about green firecrackers and why they are a better alternative to traditional fireworks:

1.) Green crackers are eco-friendly because they are made using less polluting raw materials and thus cause less pollution as compared to traditional ones. Also, the chemical composition of these green crackers helps them suppress dust particles when burnt.

2.) In most traditional firecrackers, harmful chemicals such as arsenic, lithium, and barium are used. But no such chemicals are used to manufacture green crackers.

3.) These crackers also have aluminium, lead, and carbon which helps reduce emissions while bursting.

4.) Moreover, when green crackers burst, they release water vapour which doesn't allow dust to rise and cause air pollution.

5.) Traditional firecrackers emit about 160 decibels of sound while the noise emitted by green crackers is limited to 110-125 decibels.

6.) These crackers were developed by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research - National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI) in 2019.

7.) The green crackers manufactured in India have been categorised into three categories:
SWAS: Safe Water Releaser
STAR: Safe Thermite Cracker
SAFAL: Safe Minimal Aluminium

8.) Green crackers are identified by their QR code and a CSIR-NEERI-certified green logo on the packaging.

Interestingly, a survey revealed that around 32 percent of families are planning to burst firecrackers in Delhi-NCR during https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/tags/diwali.html this year, while 43 percent cited concerns about pollution as the reason for not opting for traditional firecrackers.

Read more: Happy Diwali 2023: From lighting diyas to decorating homes, 7 key festival traditions