Reasons to Switch to Zero Waste Christmas Crackers
organic cotton Christmas crackers
Choosing zero waste Christmas crackers saves on the colossal amount of waste going into bins on Boxing Day, due to glitter and plastic etc. They also don’t have loud bangs that terrify babies and pets.
Keep Christmas crackers (and ribbons) away from small children and pets, due to choking hazards. For cracker gifts (included or homemade), keep toxic foods and plants (including holly and mistletoe) away from animal friends – read more on keeping pets safe at Christmas.
Keep This Cracker
Keep This Cracker is a wonderful brand of Christmas crackers. Made with pet-friendly, low-noise snaps (so don’t terrify animal friends or children), they can then be reused the next time.
These crackers work like ‘normal crackers’ in that you pull them apart. But rather than binning them, you just use another eco-snap, to use next time.
Flat-packed in sets of six, just fold into shape, to use. And everything is made in the UK. Sold in many colours and designs.
Keep This Cracker reusable crackers are made to last. The sturdy, snap-together design means you can open and refill them every Christmas. No more flimsy cardboard shells that tear apart after one use.
Just swap in new hats, jokes and treats, then click them shut for next time. Their strong build stands up to lots of festive fun, so you’ll have them ready for every Christmas dinner.
Why Switch to Zero Waste Christmas Crackers?
Most Christmas crackers contain small plastic choking hazards and are impossible to recycle, due to different materials (millions are thrown out on Boxing Day), they also scare babies and pets, with their loud cracker bangs. You can fill up these crackers with your own zero waste gifts.
Christmas crackers were invented by British confectioner Thomas Smith, back in 1846. While visiting Paris, he came across a sugared almond wrapped in tissue paper, and thought this would be a nice festive way of eating sweets at Christmas time. By 1860, he had added chemically impregnated paper to the crackers, to make a loud bang.
Originally called ‘bangs of expectation’, he was not to know that his invention would become an environmental nightmare.
Where to Find (Clean!) Cracker Jokes
The fun of reusable Christmas crackers is that you get to fill them with your own jokes. You could always copy the famous joke from the episode of The Good Life:
Why is the ooh-ah bird so-called? Because she lays square eggs!
If you’re stuck, here are a couple we like:
My dog is a genius. I asked him what two minus two was. He said nothing.
My boss told me to have a good day. So I went home.
Embroidered Linen Christmas Crackers
These woodland crackers are made from linen (flax plant) and embroidered with satin thread. In beautiful designs, just fill with your own gifts. Choose mixed or individual designs (robin, reindeer, wreath, tree, holly or mistletoe). Sponge-clean only, not to use as napkins or place mats.
Embroidered linen Christmas crackers look stunning on any table. Fine linen, neat stitching, and festive designs lift your whole setting and show your guests you care about the details. They add a subtle luxury that shop-bought crackers can’t match.
Beautiful Reusable Christmas Crackers
Happy Crackers offer empty reusable linen crackers, which you can fill with your own zero waste gifts. Choose from a lovely selection of designs. A few are silk, but the rest are vegan-friendly.
Reusable crackers may cost a bit more upfront, but you only buy them once. Instead of spending money every year on throwaway options, you keep your set safe for next Christmas.
A Box of Fun Festive Fabric Crackers
2 Green Monkeys offer nice fabric crackers, fill with your own gifts, then pack away to use again. Sold as single crackers of boxes (bright or traditional dark green and red festive colours), you can optionally embroider names.
No bang – just unroll to reuse as napkins, for dinner!
