People point out that it is difficult to distinguish between the genuine green firecrackers and fake ones.
| Photo Credit: PTI
Are your firecrackers really ‘green’? With low awareness among sellers and residents, regulations around eco-friendly fireworks remain largely on paper rather than in practice.
Nearly a dozen residents The Hindu spoke to said they were unaware of what green firecrackers were or how to identify them by their official logo.
Green firecrackers are eco-friendly alternatives to traditional ones, developed by CSIR-NEERI in 2018 to reduce air and noise pollution. They emit less particulate matter, avoid harmful chemicals such as barium, and are approximately 30% quieter. These firecrackers can be identified by a CSIR-NEERI and PESO logo, along with a QR code for authenticity.
R. Mohan, a resident of Medavakkam, said the firecrackers he purchased did not carry any such logo. Moreover, he said that the shopkeepers did not promote or mention these eco-friendly variants at all.
In Tamil Nadu, while the government encourages the public to opt for green firecrackers, there is no strict enforcement in place. D. Aravinth, a resident of Valasaravakkam, said that although he found the logo on the firecrackers he bought, he was unsure about what difference it truly made.
“I have never come across any information about it, even on social media,” he said.
According to experts, even bursting green firecrackers lead to an increase in ultrafine particles, which are especially harmful as they can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream.
Parth Sharma, a public health researcher based in New Delhi, said it was a common tactic among industry lobbies to introduce supposedly “healthier” versions of harmful products — much like how the tobacco industry promoted thinner cigarettes and e-cigarettes, or how the food industry marketed “healthy” foods that offer very little nutritional value. “With green firecrackers, one positive aspect is that heavy metals, which can be potentially carcinogenic, are removed,” he said.
“But, the real issue in India lies in quality control and regulatory enforcement. When even medicines are adulterated, what’s to stop so-called green firecrackers from being produced just like regular ones — with the same harmful metals,” asked Dr. Sharma, adding that beyond cancer, prolonged exposure to particulate matter could also lead to anaemia, infertility, and even tuberculosis.
Residents have also pointed out how difficult it is to find real green firecrackers from fake ones. “There’s no proper awareness campaign or a drive to educate people,” said Vasanthi, a resident.
Published – October 20, 2025 01:01 am IST
