2023
When it comes to Christmas lights, it's not possible to find options that are 100% non-toxic, unfortunately.
Most holiday string lights actually contain some level of toxic chemicals like lead, other heavy metals, and phthalates (not great, we know!).
When it comes to safer, low-tox Christmas lights, there are a few things you should keep an eye out for. Let's go over a few key factors to consider!
In addition to being a fire retardant, the lead stabilizes the PVC in order to decrease the cracking and disintegrating that comes with age.
That being said, there are other, safer materials available that do the same job as lead. (They just tend to be more expensive, which is why many manufacturers choose not to use them.)
One of the best things to look for in your Christmas lights is a certification from the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) organization.
This warning label means the product contains at least one substance from California’s Prop 65 list of toxic chemicals. Lead is on that list, as are several different types of phthalates.
LED lights aren’t inherently any less toxic. It really just comes down to the brand and how the lights (LED or not) are manufactured.