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Plus, six ways to make sure your celebrations are a bit more sustainable

What is the environmental impact of Bonfire Night? Although the 5th November brings celebration, colour and community events to much of the UK, it also comes with a whole host of polluting toxins, non-recyclable waste and lingering particles that stay in the air long after the sparklers have died out.

Here are some statistics that highlight the reality of how Bonfire Night affects the environment:

1. "Fireworks cause extensive air pollution in a short amount of time, leaving metal particles, dangerous toxins, harmful chemicals and smoke in the air for hours and days," Terrapass reports.

2. The bonfires themselves can disturb hibernating animals, particularly hedgehogs, who have made piles of logs and leaves their homes. Find out how to protect hedgehogs on Bonfire Night here.

3. As we know, fireworks contain gun power which is made up of three elements: an oxidiser (potassium), a fuel (carbon) and an accelerant (sulfur). Treehugger states that "for every 270 grams of black powder used, 132 grams of carbon dioxide are created, the rest of it turning into potassium sulfide and nitrogen."

4. "Compounds used to create dazzling colours and effects may contain heavy metals or other toxins that contribute to existing industrial contamination in our water and soil," Treehugger also says.

5. When fireworks explode in the air, plastic, cardboard and other particles are released and float back down to the ground where many will never degrade and can become a threat to wildlife.

6. A study published in the Nature journal found that an "exuberant mass of colour-emitting sparklers" release ozone, "a secondary pollutant and greenhouse gas."

One of the best ways to have an eco-friendly celebration is by attending a public display in your local area. Gathering in one place for a bigger display will result in fewer emissions than lots of small, private events. Many are organised to help raise donations for local charities, meaning that you’ll not only get to enjoy a spectacular display, but also help to make a difference.

Try to discourage your friends from hosting their own firework display. Have a drinks party, by all means, but head to your local public display for the 'ooo's and 'aahhh's.

Some parts of sky lanterns or Chinese lanterns can take over a year to completely biodegrade, making them anything but eco-friendly. Lanterns can pose great threat to wildlife when they fall back to the ground.

"When ingested, sharp parts like the wire frame can tear and puncture an animal's throat or stomach causing internal bleeding. Animals can also become entangled in fallen lantern frames, where they can suffer from injury and stress trying to get free or starve to death from being trapped. Marine life is also endangered by lanterns falling into the sea," says the RSPCA.

While there are now some biodegradable options available, these too can take decades to degrade. Instead, opt for static lanterns, outdoor lights or stationary candles.

When preparing a bonfire, there is often the fear that people will use it as an excuse to burn old materials such as mattresses, furniture and even household rubbish. The Environment Agency is urging people who are planning a Guy Fawkes bonfire to ensure that they only burn items such as small amounts of paper, leaves, wood and cardboard.

"Burning certain types of material can cause pollution and damage people’s health. We want people to enjoy themselves but the uncontrolled and excessive burning of the wrong waste can cause pollution and harm health," Megan Evans, from the Environment Agency explains.

"We want to encourage people to make sure they dispose of their waste legally and safely, and be aware that their community bonfire could be targeted by unscrupulous waste businesses who want to find somewhere to dispose of waste, resulting in the illegal burning of commercial waste."

Burning manmade materials, such as plastics or rubber, can have a drastic effect on the environment. According to research from Defra, bonfires contribute more pollutants to the air than those emitted by waste incinerators.

Many fireworks, sparklers and firecrackers are not biodegradable, often ending up being washed out to sea or dumped on fields. Some of the most common fireworks are made up of charcoal, sulfur fuel and potassium nitrate. To make the vibrant colours, fireworks have heavy metals and toxins that are very damaging to our planet.

Fortunately, there are some greener firework options available. While these are not yet a widespread solution (and often more expensive), they do provide an alternative. According to energy company Ecotricity, white coloured fireworks generally have fewer harmful chemicals than the most colourful versions — so opt for these if you can.

Whether you attend a larger bonfire or host one of your own, always clean up fallen debris left behind. Any fireworks that didn’t go off should be disposed of properly. Other remains from sparklers should also be picked up and disposed of to prevent injuring animals.

Ensure that you're not putting any animals at risk when lighting your bonfire. Smaller species, such as hedgehogs, can hide under garden log piles and may not be easily visible.

Fireworks can also frighten household pets like dogs and cats. The crashes and bangs can send smaller animals in a state of fear, so be considerate if you’re planning a firework display. Some of the ways you can help them include…

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A personal favourite of our Executive Digital Editor, Emma-Louise Pritchard, these refillable glass bottles not only help you become plastic-free in the kitchen and bathroom but also look super stylish in the home. Order through Etsy and you can choose what label to have printed on the front and which top (pump or spray) to be included. You can use them for shampoo, conditioner, washing-up liquid, cleaning sprays, hand wash... anything!

There's something really luxurious about a new set of towels. This ethically made set from Dip & Doze is made from 100% organic and fairtrade cotton. They don't use harmful chemicals so the fabric is gentle on sensitive skin. And the best bit? Each towel has a handy yet stylish hook so they look neat and tidy when hung up in the bathroom. Dip & Doze also sell sustainably made bedding and loungewear. They are a great find.

What's better than sustainable gin? Bullards Coastal Gin subscription starts you off with a beautiful glass bottle and an eco refill pouch of their premium gin. Simply fill the bottle and post the empty refill pouch back to the distillery so they can recycle it. You just pop it in the post box, no envelope or stamp required. A new refill pouch of gin will arrive monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly or annually, depending on which subscription you choose. You can choose from four flavours: Coastal, London Dry, Strawberry & Black Pepper or Old Tom. In 2020, it won The Gin Guide's Sustainability award. 

The fully electric Kensington e-bike from Volt is something special. The design is classic and stylish, it's practical with storage options on the front and back, and it's a joy to ride. It's Lithium Ion 36v battery lasts up to 60 miles and makes for effortless cycling. Live in a hilly area so choose to use your car instead of your bike? With this bike, that's not a problem. Simply choose between five different power modes to get you anywhere. It's got top level security and locking systems, too. This is, admittedly, a more expensive gift but if it means using the car less and saving on both fuel cost and emission fumes, it's a worthy investment. 

Discover 18 eco-friendly beauty products in the limited-edition Green Beauty Box by Good Housekeeping, from a collection worth £274. Each luxury product included has at least one of the following green credentials: sustainable packaging, certified organic, made in the UK, vegan, cruelty-free, plastic-free, recycled/recyclable packaging or natural ingredients. Plus, they’ve reduced the packaging used to send them to you, with FREE UK Tracked delivery. 

For a limited time only, get 33% off your beauty box with the exclusive Black Friday discount for only £40 (Was £60).

For every bottle of Sapling vodka sold, a sapling tree is planted. Sapling Spirits has partnered with Whatley Manor to launch Whatley Manor Citrus Vodka. The vodka is infused with citrus peel (lemon and orange), using only fruit from the hotel’s kitchen, which would otherwise have gone to waste. The bottle is beautiful and would look great on the table at upcoming Christmas drinks.

An RHS membership lasts all year and will allow the receiver to spend more time enjoying beautiful gardens and flower shows. They'll be able to learn more about gardening and how to welcome more wildlife into their own outdoor spaces. 

To be more eco, consider travel to and from RHS locations. Can you get public transport or car pool with a group of people who would like to go? Can you visit them when you are already in the area instead of making a special journey?

These wireless earbuds are from sustainable audio brand House of Marley. They are made using sustainable materials, including natural bamboo. Perfect for commuters, they have an eight hour battery life or 30 hours with the case. They are sweat and water-resistant too. Every purchase helps plant trees across the globe.

Boostology's Volcanic Potpourri claims to be an "eco-friendlier alternative to scented candles as no part of the product ever needs to be thrown away, and it uses no electricity and no flames." You simply pour essential oils over the porous lava and obsidian rocks. They soak up the oil and slowly release the scent. Plus, Boostology plant one tree for every order placed, deliver in plastic-free parcels and everything is made in the UK. 

A perfect stocking filler, these tooth tabs are a plastic-free toothpaste alternative that are worth a try. They are ideal for traveling or look great on your bathroom shelves compared to the ugly tubes we have become used to. Designed by dentists, they are eco-friendly, vegan, plastic-free and British-made. 

For the person in your life who currently uses cotton wool pads, buy them these washable, reusable face pads and you'll save them environmental footprints as well as money. These handmade, 100% cotton rounds come in different patterns with a matching bag to wash them in.

Reusable water bottles have become somewhat of an accessory in recent years and this white marble, stainless steel, BPA-free, insulated drinks bottle keeps beverages hot or cold for up to 24 hours. It's 100% leak-proof, too. 

We've made the switch from plastic bags to paper wraps on our subscriber copies, making a Country Living subscription a worthy eco-friendly Christmas gift. All our paper is FSC certified and can be recycled.

This hand-printed linen bread bag, made in Cornwall, is both beautiful and practical. Take it to the bakery or supermarket and feel better about not bringing your purchase home in a plastic wrap. It's machine washable and available in different colours.

Botanist Timothy Walker explains how we can all make a difference by adapting our behaviour as gardeners to help save threatened plants.

byFoke is a sustainable gifting company. Their website states their intentions as: "Supporting and championing small independent brands, creating an ethical and sustainable business that has as small a footprint as possible and above all creating memorable gift experiences for both the purchaser and the recipient." The Heidi gift set is 100% natural, vegan and cruelty-free. It contains an artisan hand towel made from 100% cotton, bath salts and soap.

We've all heard the devastating truths about how much plastic is in our tea bags. The alternative? Go loose. All you need to make a loose leaf brew is a beautiful tea pot and a strainer (£12.99, Amazon). We like to use metal tea bags (£4.99, Amazon), which are great for single mugs, too.

Cheeky specialise in plastic-free baby and make-up wipes, period and incontinence products, and nappies. This sustainable period starter kit includes:

For bookworms, this is a great packaging-free gift they can enjoy for months. On top of one book credit a month to download new releases, Audible members can enjoy a host of free books and podcasts too.

Tried, tested and loved by our CL digital team, these merino wool trainers are completely waterproof thanks to weather-repellent natural materials. The are warm, cosy and look amazing.

Tried, tested and loved by our CL digital team, there's a reason why Ethique's hair and skin bar range has been a huge hit since it made its debut in Holland & Barrett earlier this year. This shampoo bar is made using pink grapefruit and warming vanilla and foams up just as generously as a liquid shampoo. Slightly more expensive than a bottle of shampoo, it lasts a lot longer so is actually cheaper over all.

Help a loved one welcome more birds into their garden with this stylish bird box. Watching them flit in and out will be a mindful and soothing activity and the birds will be grateful for the help. 

This gift is perfect for those who love to travel or live life on the move. The lightweight set includes a bamboo knife, fork, spoon, reusable straw and cleaning brush.

Helping to make pack lunches both zero-waste and stylish.