Burning incense and paper offerings has been woven into rituals across East and Southeast Asia for centuries, yet environmental and ethical questions are swirling around these practices today.

Air quality takes a hit when countless joss sticks and ghost-money sheets go up in fragrant plumes. Particulate matter, volatile organic compounds and trace metals released by incense can aggravate asthma and other respiratory issues—especially in ornate temple halls where ventilation often falls short. During the recent Lunar New Year in Taipei, local health authorities noted a spike in fine-particulate pollution, spurring calls for greener alternatives.

Forests bear a hidden cost, too. Bamboo stalks for incense and pulp for spirit money draw on timber resources. Overharvesting in parts of Indonesia and Malaysia has contributed to habitat loss for endangered species. Even fast-growing bamboo plantations can strain local watersheds when pesticides and fertilizers are used.

The carbon footprint of paper offerings isn’t trivial either. Every sheet of spirit money, once printed and packaged, embodies energy burned all the way from pulp mills to your front door—only to go up in smoke moments later. At the same time, countless plastic trinkets and metallic foils tucked into paper bundles end up as toxic ash or landfill leachate.

Ethical concerns also surface around health equity. Elderly worshippers and children, drawn to temples for blessings, disproportionately inhale these emissions. In bustling Bangkok shrines, volunteers now hand out surgical masks during peak festival days—an ad hoc band-aid on a bigger problem.

Bright spots are emerging: some temples in Singapore have trialed LED lanterns and electronic offering systems, while eco-minded artisans craft incense with sustainably sourced herbs and biodegradable paper. Although tradition runs deep, those willing to strike a fresh balance are proving that honoring ancestors needn’t cost the earth.