Are green crackers really less polluting? The debate behind the label explainer news

Last updated:October 20, 2025, 11:12 IST

Introduced as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional fireworks, green crackers have again been approved this Diwali. But do they really pollute the air less?

This is the question that India keeps remembering every Diwali. It was first introduced as a safer alternative to traditional fireworks. green crackers Emissions should be reduced without eliminating celebrations. But years after their launch, the main concern remains: do they actually make the air less pollutedor bus seem Like they do?

The Supreme Court has allowed the use of certified green crackers in Delhi-NCR for two days – October 20 and 21 – between 6:00-7:00 am and 8:00-10:00 pm. Argument: Complete bans have not worked, and regulated use of low-emission crackers is a better option than smuggling more toxic, banned types.

But scientists, environmental campaigners and medical experts argue the allowances could be a distraction from the bigger issue. Green crackers still cause pollution; The only difference is how much, and whether those reductions meaningfully improve public health in an already hazardous air environment.

Why were green crackers introduced?

The move to develop green crackers came after a series of public health crises after Diwali in 2016 and 2017, when air quality index (AQI) levels in Delhi crossed 500, falling into the “hazardous” category. The Supreme Court responded with a 2018 decision Arjun Gopal vs Union of IndiaStating that cultural practices cannot take away the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution.

The Court banned conventional firecrackers containing barium nitrate and other heavy metals and directed manufacturers to make less polluting alternatives. This led to the development of green crackers by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), with the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO) entrusted with testing and certifying them.

The goal was to create a product that was significantly less harmful and more enforceable than a complete ban.

What makes a cracker ‘green’?

Traditional firecrackers rely on a mixture of chemicals such as barium nitrate, aluminium, potassium nitrate, sulfur and carbon, these substances produce the classic flash and bang, but also produce fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 and PM 10), sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. These are all known contributors to smog and respiratory disease.

Green crackers modify these formulations. According to CSIR-NEERI, they:

• Replace barium nitrate with potassium nitrate or strontium salts
• reduce aluminum content
• Add dust-suppression agents like zeolite and iron oxide
• Remove heavy metals like mercury, arsenic and lithium
• Reduce size and control heat
• Limit noise output to 125 decibels at four meters

Only those crackers that reduce particulate emissions by at least 30 percent or 20 percent as well as gaseous emissions by 10 percent, Green label is allowed to be carried.

Three variants have been officially certified: SWAS (Safe Water Releaser), STAR (Safe Thermite Cracker), and SAFAL (Safe Minimal Aluminum).

Do they really reduce pollution?

According to a 2023 study by CSIR-NEERI and Wankhede et al. ,environmental pollution), green fireworks emit 30 to 40 percent fewer particles than traditional fireworks. Specifically, replacement of barium nitrate was found to reduce airborne barium concentrations by 30 to 60 percent.

However, green crackers were also found to release small amounts of aluminium, copper and strontium into the air.

Soil analysis after bursting green crackers found high levels of residual metals. A 2024 study by Dubey and Rai (Journal of Laser Applications) Aluminum, barium, strontium, magnesium, iron, and zinc were detected in post-burn ash and surrounding soil samples using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy.

So while green crackers produce less pollution, their emissions still contribute to environmental pollution, and the improvement is only partial.

What about ultrafine particles?

One of the more worrying findings concerns ultrafine particles (UFP), which are smaller than 100 nanometers. These particles are not completely captured in mass-based AQI measurements, but can travel deep into the lungs and bloodstream, posing serious health risks.

A study conducted in 2019 in Delhi (Yadav et al., Journal of Environmental Management 2022), a 138 percent increase in particle number concentrations was recorded after the use of green crackers. The average particle size observed was 44 nanometers, small enough to escape standard filtration and detection systems.

Although the total mass of pollutants may be decreasing, the increase in these invisible particles remains a serious public health concern.

What does the Supreme Court say?

In its order dated 15 October 2025 Supreme Court has given permission to use green firecrackers Citing the failure of complete ban in Delhi-NCR during Diwali. A bench led by Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran said smuggling of banned traditional firecrackers has become widespread, which often causes more harm than the controlled use of certified green alternatives.

Under the decision:

• Only licensed manufacturers based in Delhi-NCR can sell green crackers
• Cracker boxes should have QR codes linked to CSIR-NEERI and PESO certification
• License will be suspended on fake green firecrackers

The order comes a day after the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) implemented Phase I of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which is triggered when AQI levels exceed 200.

Is enforcement working?

On paper, there is a clear enforcement protocol. The patrol teams are expected to inspect manufacturers, verify licenses, upload QR codes online and crack down on non-compliant sales. However, in practice, there are shortcomings at every level.

As reported peppermintIt is not possible to test and certify every cracker batch or version. Counterfeit labels and QR codes are widespread. Most consumers are unaware of what a certified green cracker looks like or what marks to look for. Many sellers, especially small shops and local vendors, continue to stock non-approved firecrackers.

In 2024, despite a complete ban on firecrackers in Delhi, authorities seized thousands of kilograms of firecrackers. Meanwhile, according to the Indian Fireworks Manufacturers Association, firecracker sales, mostly in and around Sivakasi, reportedly totaled Rs 6,000 crore.

How has the industry responded?

Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu, which accounts for about 95 percent of India’s firecracker production, has largely adapted to the regulatory change. Tamil Nadu Fireworks and Amores Manufacturers Association (TANFAMA) claims that most of the units, including small-scale producers, have now switched to green firecrackers.

To support testing and certification, the manufacturers co-funded a new CSIR-NEERI testing facility in Sivakasi, contributing 40 percent of the cost. This helped reduce dependence on the earlier facility in Nagpur, which was more than 1,600 kilometers away.

So, do green crackers make a difference?

They do, but not enough to change the bigger picture. Green crackers remove some of the most toxic elements, modestly reduce pollution levels, and make enforcement more measurable on paper. But they still release harmful particles, raise health concerns, and leave chemical residues in the air and soil.

read more