Fireworks Are Traditional But Not Sustainable – So Here Are Three Festive Alternatives For Malta
Summer has come – and that means that Malta’s skies are starting to come alive with festive displays of multi-coloured firework shows and loud petards.
However, as many scientists have warned, these traditional expressions of celebration tend to be quite destructive to the local environment.
As a matter of fact, fireworks release a host of contaminants that affect air quality for locals and can even contribute to climate change. These include things like carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen, sulphur dioxide and particulate matter.
Besides this, they cause noise disturbances in local neighbourhoods which, besides being a nuisance to citizens or frightening to individuals with noise sensitivities, also scare farm animals, hinder agricultural development and disturb natural breeding.
The danger doesn’t stop there. Fireworks are also known to cause fatal explosions within the factories and contribute to fires which threaten lives and surrounding nature.
Therefore, it may be about time for Malta to rethink its arguably excessive use of fireworks especially during the scorching summer months.
Below is a list of a couple of more sustainable alternatives that can be used in an effort to decrease the use of traditional fireworks in Malta.
1. Organic fireworks
Dutch artist Daan Roosegaarde designed an installation called SPARK and it consists of biodegradable light sparks that float silently through the air as a more sustainable alternative to fireworks, balloons, confetti and drones.
He was inspired by the light of fireflies and the desire to update the tradition of fireworks – he was able to actualise his vision through a delicate combination of design and technology.
While the ability to bring his installation to Malta may be challenging, it does show promise to work on projects using similarly sustainable materials to suit Malta’s cultural festivals and connect communities through more eco-friendly celebrations.
2. Drone light shows
Drone shows have gained traction in recent years in several countries like South Korea. They utilise mesmerising displays of synchronised and choreographed groups of drones that arrange themselves into a host of aerial formations.
Incredible images can be recreated and manifested in the sky by a computer program that turns graphics into flight commands and communicates them to the drones.
Drones are operated remotely and pose little risk of fire or property damage. They also emit little-to-no harmful gases or loud explosions, making them a more sustainable option for outdoor events.
Nonetheless, one must note that such drone lights are generally powered by rechargeable Lithium-Ion or LiPo batteries which come with their own environmental and ethical concerns – especially when it comes to sourcing the materials.
Moreover, a hybrid approach may be beneficial especially when considering the direct ecological danger that traditional fireworks can cause.
3. Green Crackers
Green crackers were first designed by the National Environmental and Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) and they have been dubbed as eco-friendly crackers aimed to replace hazardous agents in traditional crackers with less polluting substances.
The aim is to reduce the noise intensity and emissions. Consequently, they do not contain barium nitrate, which is a very dangerous ingredient in conventional crackers. This decreases emissions by around 30 to 35% according to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
These crackers are also said to have a lower sound level than traditional fireworks – between 110 and 125 decibels rather than the roughly 160 decibels of conventional crackers.
Nonetheless, it must be noted that green crackers can only be manufactured by firms that have signed agreements with the CSIR, therefore, small businesses generally cannot manufacture such crackers. Hence, a ban on traditional fireworks and a complete switch to green crackers may put locals out of business.
Moreover, despite their name, these are not eco-friendly and shouldn’t be treated as such. As mentioned above, they only limit emissions by around 30% to 35%.
Photo credits: IQ Air
Ultimately, firework displays are an integral part of Maltese culture, however, that doesn’t mean that the country can not adapt to new challenges and technologies.
While a complete ban on traditional fireworks may be unfeasible right now, gradual integration of some of these alternatives can aid the transition to a greener and safer Malta.
Which of these alternatives would you like to see at your local festa?
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