The Association of the Pyrotechnic Industry expects demand for New Year’s Eve fireworks to remain high at the turn of the year, similar to last year. In 2022, the industry achieved record sales of 180 million euros. “The demand was huge, the pent-up demand was obviously high,” said managing director Klaus Gotzen. Fireworks were banned on New Year’s Eve 2020 and 2021 due to corona. The industry is optimistic that demand will be good again this year, emphasized Gotzen. Fireworks are repeatedly criticized, not only because of the waste, but also because of the environmental, noise and health impact as well as the risk of injury.
The fireworks industry generates 90 percent of annual sales on the three working days before New Year’s Eve. Sales of rockets, firecrackers and other items to consumers nationwide are scheduled to begin on Thursday. The Bremerhaven fireworks company Comet wanted to open its doors from 6 a.m., as it announced in advance. Comet achieved sales of around 50 million euros last year. “It would be nice to get close to it again,” said managing director Richard Eickel. Comet has a market share of 30 percent in Germany and the company produces in China.
The packaging should have less plastic content
Competitors include Nico from Berlin and Weco from Eitorf in North Rhine-Westphalia. According to its own information, Weco is the only remaining major German manufacturer of fireworks. Weco is also optimistic about this year’s New Year’s Eve business. “We have tailwind from last season,” emphasized sales manager Oliver Gerstmeier. The industry has been relying on pyrotechnics and packaging with less plastic since last year. Rocket tip caps, stands or fuse covers, which were previously made of plastic, were reportedly replaced with cardboard or plant fibers. PVC packaging was replaced with cardboard boxes. “We have changed our range,” said Comet managing director Eickel. By reducing the amount of plastic, “hundreds of tons of waste would be saved,” emphasized association boss Gotzen.
The fireworks in Cologne last year.
(Photo: Thomas Banneyer/dpa)
According to the Federal Environment Agency, spent fireworks, multi-shot batteries and firecrackers should under no circumstances be disposed of in the recycling bin. Because of the chemicals they contain, they belong in the residual waste, as the authority writes in a brochure published in December. In order to avoid the toxic residues being washed away with rain or meltwater and ending up in the ground and waterways, the waste should be disposed of promptly. However, a lot of things often remain on the streets and sidewalks. The Association of Municipal Companies announced that in the five largest German cities of Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Cologne and Frankfurt am Main alone, municipal waste disposal companies regularly remove around 200 tons of New Year’s Eve waste on New Year’s Day.
Most recently, German Environmental Aid renewed its call for a ban on firecrackers at the turn of the year. The Hamburg Nature Conservation Association calls on people to voluntarily avoid fireworks. Fireworks not only cause enormous pollution due to fine dust and a lot of garbage, they also harm wild animals, according to Nabu Hamburg. The industry responded to the criticism with a range of noise-reduced firecrackers, the so-called Silence Line. This is quieter than the usual fireworks, said Eickel. The focus is on lighting effects instead of bangs.