Our Environmental Commitment

We make and sell colored smoke for photographers, creators, gender reveals, sporting events, training, and film. We also care about the places those products are used — the fields, beaches, parks, and backyards that make the photos worth taking. This page is our honest accounting of the environmental side of colored smoke: what's in it, what it emits, what we've done to reduce its footprint, and how you can use it responsibly.

What's actually in the smoke

Our colored smoke is produced by a smoke composition combined with a dye that vaporizes and recondenses as a colored cloud. The dyes used in the products we carry are selected to be non-toxic and non-carcinogenic. That said, no one should deliberately breathe any smoke — dense smoke of any kind can irritate the eyes and airways. Use outdoors in open air, stay upwind, and keep smoke away from anyone with respiratory sensitivity. Full composition details are published in our Safety Data Sheets.

A genuinely small carbon footprint

Colored smoke compositions carry their own oxidizer, so — unlike a fossil-fuel fire — they don't need to pull in and burn large volumes of oxygen, and they release only a very small amount of CO₂ per device. Based on manufacturer testing, a popular 40g wire-pull device produces on the order of ~8 grams of CO₂ — roughly the same as leaving a car idling for about 15 seconds. A single colored-smoke device is a rounding error next to the drive to and from most photoshoots.

Less plastic, better packaging

The product lines we carry have been progressively engineered to remove plastic in favor of biodegradable materials — today the vast majority of the device body and components are biodegradable rather than plastic. Plastic safety caps were replaced with cardboard alternatives even though that change cost more to produce. We absorb those costs rather than passing them on, because reducing plastic waste is worth it.

Right-sized products = less waste

We offer a range of burn times and sizes — from short-burn devices to high-output 90-second cans — so you can pick the right tool for the job instead of over-buying. Using a device sized to your actual shot means less material, less residue, and less waste. See the full lineup and the size chart to match output to your needs, or browse all smoke bombs.

Using colored smoke responsibly is an environmental act

The biggest environmental impact of colored smoke isn't the smoke itself — it's careless use. A device used the wrong way can start a wildfire, stain property, or harm a sensitive habitat. Please:

• Never use near dry grass, brush, or during fire restrictions. Hot residue starts fires. Know local fire conditions before you light anything.
• Keep smoke and residue out of waterways, wetlands, and storm drains.
• Respect protected land. Many parks and beaches prohibit smoke devices — see Are Smoke Bombs Legal in National Parks? and our Safety & Legal Guide.
• Get permission from the property owner or venue before use.
• Mind wildlife and other people. We don't recommend colored smoke at crowded venues like packed stadiums where it can't be used safely or considerately.

Clean up after yourself

Always pack out and properly dispose of spent canisters and any residue — never leave them on the ground, in water, or in a fire pit. Let a spent device cool completely before handling, then dispose of it with your regular waste in accordance with local regulations. Leaving a location exactly as you found it is the simplest, highest-impact thing every user can do.

Our commitment

We will keep choosing lower-impact materials and packaging where we can, keep publishing honest information instead of greenwashing, and keep pushing safe, responsible use — because the outdoors is where most of these products earn their keep. Have a question or a suggestion for doing better? Get in touch.