Christmas Day isn’t complete until you’ve had a full blown fight with your nan about who won the cracker present.
Those paper hats are also a prerequisite for a festive time, and it’d be a crying shame to nix crackers from the the merriment.
With people’s eco-consciousness growing, however, you’d be forgiven for wanting to be a bit Bah Humbug about the huge amount of needless plastic included.
From plastic in the cracker’s outer to the pointless toys that just get thrown away (has anyone ever used those plastic pinging frogs after 25 December?), it’s all a bit wasteful.
You don’t need to go full killjoy to keep things sustainable, though. There are loads of different options for you right on the UK high street and web.
Waitrose
Both the crackers themselves and the box for these are made from cardboard, which is easily recycled.
Not only that, the gifts are all made from silver or cardboard (except from a plastic cookie cutter which you can use for ages).
You could bag yourself a silver bowling game, nail clippers, silver money clip, snap hook, bottle opener, nail file, silver dice, silver whistle, cookie mould, silver notebook, magic trick, or playing cards.
Get them here. £7 for a pack of 12.
LoveTiki
These crackers have a selection FSC certified tree decorations and are plastic free, so you can impress any eco-conscious guests.
You’ll get hats and jokes as usual – as well as the all-important snap – but instead of toys and games you’ll find gorgeous tree decorations.
They’re not suitable for children, but children would probably not appreciate the aesthetic, sustainable gifts anyway.
They also come in a paper bag, so when you’re done you just sweep the crackers into the bag and pop straight into the recycling.
Get them here. £16.79 for 12.
Meri Meri
There are foil accents on these adorable crackers, so you will have to be careful when recycling.
However, the real standout is the gifts inside, which are all wildlife themed keyrings.
The wooden keepsakes are genuinely pretty and usable, so you know they won’t end up in the bin.
Get them here. £23.00 for 8.
Keepthiscracker
For something a little bit different, try Keepthiscracker.
They’re fill-your-own, but can be used year on year, and all you need to do is add new gifts and replace the snap element.
They bang when you pull them but don’t tear open, so no waste. As well as this, they come in paper packaging, and even the ribbons are made 100% used plastic bottles sourced from Europe.
When you do eventually get new ones, they can be recycled as you would any cardboard.
Get them here. £19.00 for 6.
Nancy & Betty
Aren’t these sprout designs cute?
The gifts inside these bespoke crackers are also amazing. You can get wooden golf tees, a wooden honey drizzler, a mini whisk, a large wooden die, an egg cup, a salt scoop, a nutmeg grater and mini pencils, mini strawberry jam, luxury tea or wild flower seeds. Dibs on the cute, tiny jam.
Everything’s recyclable except the bows (which you can use for crafting) and the box doesn’t have that annoying plastic window in it, which is even better.
Get them here. £35.00 for 6.
Selfridges
No gifts in these little Selfridges numbers, but you will get the classic hat, snap, and motto combo.
They’re made from eco-friendly cardboard which you can stick in the recycling when you’re done. As for the ribbons, keep them for next year.
Get them here. £28.00 for 6.
Notonthehighstreet
Made of natural linen and embroidered with satin thread, each of these gorgeous crackers is tied either end with a green satin ribbon and has a durable plastic inner tube to reuse year after year.
Made by Kate Sproston Design, they don’t contain a snap, but can be filled with whatever your heart desires. We vote mini jams.
Get them here. £64.50 for 6.
LittleCraftyBugs
If you’ve got little ones at the dinner table this Christmas, they’ll love making these crackers.
Made from recycled cardboard that can be recycled after use, they’re environmentally friendly, and they come with hats and jokes you can add when you make them.
Decorate how you want, and add anything else you fancy.
Get them here. £6.00 for 8.
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source https://metro.co.uk/2019/11/21/plastic-free-reusable-crackers-make-christmas-go-off-sustainable-bang-11190797/
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