Every year, the streets of New Orleans brim with celebration—and an alarming amount of waste. According to Where Y’at Magazine, carnival season contributes approximately 1,250 tons (2.5 million pounds) of garbage. The city imports over 25 million pounds of plastic beads annually—the weight equivalent of the Eiffel Tower—with one super krewe tossing an estimated 15 million throws during a single parade.

From its inception in 2015, the Krewe of Krampus recognized the environmental impact of this tradition and made sustainability a core mission. Co-founder and Creative Director Michael Esordi prioritized reducing waste on the streets by reimagining parade throws.

While many walking krewes began crafting handmade items to encourage recipients to cherish their throws, the Krewe of Krampus sought to go above and beyond by pioneering innovative, eco-friendly practices. They not only created unique, artistic treasures designed to be kept and admired but also focused on using sustainable materials and methods. This commitment set a new standard for environmental responsibility, emphasizing sustainability over mass-produced goods.

“We’re about art and creativity, and we don’t want to pollute the city we love,” says Esordi. This philosophy inspired their signature throw—a lump of coal for the naughty ones on Saint Nicholas Day. Crafted from natural, recyclable materials, these pieces are transformed into art by krewe members and distributed as cherished keepsakes during the Krampus NOLAuf parade. While striving for eco-friendliness, they continuously seek ways to minimize any environmental impact from additional materials or adhesives used.

Understanding that there’s always room for improvement, the krewe innovates annually to enhance sustainability. They’ve started integrating biodegradable glitter, incorporated more natural decorations, and even turned their packaging into art. The coal now comes in small fabric bags, decorated and designed for reuse.

In 2023, the Krewe of Krampus amplified their efforts by experimenting with crushed, recycled glass in their throws. This led to the creation of two new materials: Krampus Clay and Gl’ule. Both can be sculpted into small items that air-dry to a stone-like hardness, opening new possibilities for sustainable art projects.

Seeing immense potential in using local recycled glass, they partnered with Glass Half Full, a community-based glass recycling organization. With their support, a “Krampus Bin” was set up at Glass Half Full’s drop-off facility. Fans were encouraged to recycle their glass, which would be crushed and transformed into throws for the following year. Thanks to this initiative, over 1,200 lumps of coal and numerous other throws were crafted for 2024 using recycled glass.

“The pièce de résistance of all this experimentation has to be the recycled glass doubloons Esordi designed for the 2024 Krampus NOLAuf,” says William Ransom a member of the Krewe’s leadership. “Doubloons are such an iconic and collectible Mardi Gras souvenir. Using recycled glass to create the first Krampus Doubloon is the perfect way to top off such an amazing year of innovations.”

The Krewe of Krampus operates on three core motivators: Creativity, Sustainability, and Accessibility. By intertwining these principles, they not only redefine parade culture but also set a precedent for others to follow. Their relentless pursuit of sustainable practices keeps them ahead of the curve, making the art of the parade more eco-friendly each year.

Exciting initiatives are already underway that promise to revolutionize future parades. With leaders like Michael Esordi and the Krewe of Krampus spearheading these efforts, the transformation toward sustainability in parade throws isn’t just a hopeful vision—it’s an evolving reality.