Although Bonfire Night brings celebration, bright colours, and the community together through events, it also hosts a lot of problems such as polluting toxins, non-recyclable goods, and bonfires which small mice can sneak into! We think everyone should be able to enjoy bonfire night without having to worry about the environment. That’s why we’ve created an eco-friendly bonfire night guide for the whole family!
Attend a local bonfire and/or firework display
If you’re looking to reduce your carbon footprint this Bonfire Night, attending a public display in your local area is a great way to start. Getting everyone together in one place for a display results in fewer emissions than lots of small private events in gardens. Many of these events are organised to help raise donations for local charities. Not only does the environment get your help, but you also help make a difference.
The bonus to a community event is they tend to be more out of the way, while private garden fireworks can frighten our furry pets at home. If one of your neighbours is having a private display, here’s a guide to help your furry friend relax.
Choose biodegradable fireworks and sparklers
Trying to have an eco-friendly bonfire night can be difficult. Many fireworks, sparklers, and fireworks are sadly not biodegradable. Worse, they often end up being dumped on fields, or washed out to sea, endangering wild and sealife.
Traditional fireworks are normally made using charcoal and sulphur fuel. When set off, they look amazing, however, the smoke, perchlorates, and metal byproducts cause contamination. Choosing white coloured fireworks generally means fewer harmful chemicals as they contain fewer harmful chemicals – so opt for these is possible.
You can even opt for recyclable sparklers now! You can now get wooden sparklers made from naturally renewable resources that burn down to a recyclable wooden handle. The perfect low impact party accessory.
Clean up after yourselves!
Alright, we thought it would be common sense, but you’d be surprised by how many people don’t tidy up after their firework display. Things might be too hot to touch, but by the morning after, the remains of our night are a distant memory.
Whether you attend a larger bonfire or host your own fireworks, it’s important to clean up any fallen debris. Any fireworks that didn’t go off should be disposed of accordingly. Any other remains should be picked up and disposed of properly to prevent injuring any small animals mistaking them for food.
Don’t forget to look after local wildlife
We want to help you ensure you’re not putting any animals at risk when lighting a bonfire. Smaller animals such as hedgehogs and mice can hide in a built bonfire before it’s lit, and in the darker nights, they’re not very visible. To stop any small creatures crawling into your bonfire, only start building it shortly before you plan to light it. Having a bonfire built a few days before lighting will only attract small animals to bury inside.
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Did you know?
As the dark nights draw in, it’s recommended to supplement with vitamin D. From about late March/early April to the end of September, most people should be able to make all the vitamin D they need from sunlight, however from October to March, we don’t make enough vitamin D from the sun due to the low hours we are exposed to it.
Ensuring your body is provided with adequate levels of Vitamin D can aid your body’s immune response and help to improve your body’s ability to fight off illness and disease, vital in the winter months when colds and sniffles thrive!
To ensure your immune system stays in tip-top shape during winter, we’ve added 100% of your vitamin D3 to our brand new Sugar-Free A-Z Multivitamin!