Are fireworks vegan?

What is the definition of veganism?

According to The Vegan Society veganism is:

“A way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose.”

This prompts a few questions:

Do fireworks contain animal products?

Well, this might just stop any kind of debate before we’ve even started. I had no idea! From the research I’ve done, most fireworks do indeed contain an animal product. That product is stearic acid. Stearic acid is a long-chain fatty acid that can be sourced from plants but is much more commonly derived from animals. It’s used to coat metal powders, such as iron and aluminium. This prevents oxidation and allows the powders to be stored for longer.

So that’s a pretty definitive answer. A quick Google of the term “vegan-friendly fireworks” doesn’t throw up any results for fireworks for sale with non-animal ingredients. This doesn’t surprise me – as given the points to come I’m pretty sure there would be no market for them.

Are fireworks cruel to animals?

Again, another pretty clear-cut answer and this is where my friend Jo comes in. Every year, we exchange November WhatsApp messages about her lovely dog Portly, who cowers in fear every time he hears the sounds of a nearby firework display. He’s not the only one – I’m pretty sure there’s not a domestic animal out there that LOVES the sound of what feels like the world ending in their sensitive little ears.

Our domesticated friends

According to the PDSA, there are over 11 million cats and almost 9 million dogs living in households across the UK. Not to mention all the rabbits, guinea pigs, mice, rats, chickens…I could go on. That’s a lot of scared pets.

Granted, there are measures we can take to protect our companion animals from the noise and fear of fireworks, and technically it’s “just one night”. The reality is quite different though. In these days of multiple organised displays in every town, and of anyone being able to walk into a shop and buy fireworks to let off at any time of night in their garden, it’s sometimes hard to predict when to keep animals protected. Arguably though, our domestic animals have it good, even if they don’t feel like they do. Imagine if you lived outside on bonfire night…

Our native wildlife

The effect of fireworks on wild animals living all across the country can also be devastating. Sometimes these displays are happening right in their usually safe and quiet habitats. This causes fear, stress, and anxiety at best, and at worst, injury and death. We’ve all heard the advice to check our bonfires for hedgehogs, in case they’d crawled in thinking it would be a nice place to hibernate, but that’s only one risk to wild animals.

This article on Wildlife Articles has some really valid points that, as a pre-vegan consumer of anything and everything without any thought, I’d never really considered:

“Mammals will flee due to the noise caused by the fireworks, often leading deer running across roads putting drivers’ lives at risk, or some mammals may tragically fall into ponds as they scurry to escape and may not able to get out (all the more reason to create a wildlife-friendly pond with a sloped area for animals to get back onto land if they should fall in). Birds will take flight from their roosts and may fly into windows, as they too are panicked and confused.”

The rest of the article goes into a lot more detail about the potential harm to wild animals and is well worth a read if it’s a topic you want to know more about.

So I’d consider that another pretty solid black mark against fireworks aligning with vegan values. Sorry, rocket lovers.

Anything else, you party pooper?

OK, I didn’t realise it was going to be so clear-cut! I’m sad to say though, there’s more. Since turning vegan, my entire worldview has changed. Even though my initial reason for the change was for the animals, it’s hard to ignore the environmental benefits of veganism. That’s a whole other post, but it has got me thinking about how bad fireworks are for the environment.

Are they really that bad for the environment?

Short answer? Yes, pretty bad.

Firstly, fireworks are made up of a whole host of chemicals, many of which are pretty harmful to humans. They’re absolutely loaded with toxic metals, which are exploded into the atmosphere in tiny particles, all ready to be breathed into our lungs, and the developing lungs of our children. In addition, bonfire smoke contains highly toxic carbon monoxide.

During this 2010 study, researchers tested the quality of the air after Guy Fawkes Night and Diwali, and concluded that in the 24 hours after both events, the levels of harmful particulate matter in the air were significantly higher than regulatory limits. They also found that the particulates associated with fireworks were much more toxic than vehicle-derived emissions.

As well as the human issue, there’s the matter of these particulates raining into lakes and rivers all over the country, adding to the potential harm to wildlife.

The conclusion – so are fireworks vegan?

Well, from my point of view, the conclusion is pretty overwhelming. I can’t see a way of justifying either attending or buying fireworks that doesn’t conflict with my vegan values. 

Having said all this, veganism is about doing whatever we can. Everyone’s boundary line is in a different place (and mine is constantly shifting the more I find out). So please don’t see this as some kind of guilt trip or judgement. I’m always learning, and I’m sure there’s plenty of stuff I still consume unwittingly that doesn’t strictly adhere to my values.

Some ideas for a firework-free bonfire night

If this article has made you think that you’d like to celebrate bonfire night in a firework-free zone, here are a few ideas:

Baked potato night

Bear with me a moment here, I know this is a weird heading. For some reason, I always associate bonfire night with a big jacket potato loaded with chilli, followed by a steaming mug of hot chocolate, loaded with all the toppings you can think of. 

This is a really low-cost celebration idea that is suitable for all ages – why not invite a few friends over, cook up a big batch of baked potatoes and snuggle up with your pets (who will be glad of the company and the peace) for a movie or a catch-up.

Stargazing

If you live close enough to some open countryside and the sky is cloud-free, why not wait until the sun goes down, pack a flask of hot drink and some blankets and spend an evening looking at the stars.

Project your fireworks, indoors

Even your cat and members of your family who aren’t fans of the crowds and big bangs of firework displays will probably love a projected version.

Fireworks in a jar

If you don’t have a projector and don’t want to buy one, you can reuse an old jar and gather some kitchen staples to create some beautiful fireworks in a jar. 

Bubbles are a great alternative to fireworks

Instead of buying fireworks or attending a display, bubbles are a great alternative, especially for babies and small children. Check out the bubbles available from Dr Zigs – they make bubbles that are produced with a conscience. Less of an impact on the planet than standard bubbles, and definitely a more eco-friendly option than fireworks. They even make them for pets!

How do you feel about fireworks?

Are you a firework lover or hater? Has this article changed how you view them? We’d love to hear from you – drop us a DM or tag us in a post on Instagram or Facebook and we will share your comments.