Easter has always seemed incredibly special, but it feels even more important this year! Perhaps it’s about planning the Easter brunch menu, decorating the house, and organizing fun Easter activities for the kids. What doesn’t feel Easter-y, though, is the plastic! We see shelves stocked with plastic eggs, one-time-use baskets, and cheaply packaged Easter candy – and we know the time has come to act. So, today, we are sharing seven ways to have a more eco-friendly Easter while honoring the planet!
Opt for eco-friendly Easter egg dyes
Ironically, the first thing we’re asking you to do is ditch the regular eggs in favor of eco-friendly Easter eggs! Let’s see how this pans out. Decorating Easter eggs is an age-old tradition, and we’re not here to tell you to quit it altogether. But unfortunately, a store-bought kit can be harmful to the planet since it’s made of plastic, cardboard, and those filthy dye tablets made of who knows what! So instead, unleash your inner artist by making your own natural egg dye from the comfort of your home.
How to make eco-friendly Easter eggs?
Who knew you could smartly convert leftovers at home into cute eco-friendly Easter eggs? Time to celebrate Easter with some natural dyes found in your kitchen, like fruits, vegetables, and spices.
Ditch single-use plastic in the Easter egg hunt
Using plastic eggs can be wasteful (and guilt-inducing), especially when they’re thrown away every year after Easter. So when planning the hunt this year, don’t hide any plastic eggs. Instead, opt for reusable muslin treat bags and place your wooden eggs in them. However, if you’ve accumulated a stock of plastic eggs over the years, reusing them every year is also a sustainable hack!
How to plan an Earth-friendly Easter egg hunt?
We understand that the Easter egg hunt is an iconic Easter tradition. But starting this year, you can make the day a little less wasteful by ditching the single-use plastic eggs and toys. Fortunately, switching to eco-friendly eggs for Easter hunts has become easier than ever, as it doesn’t have to be about hunting for disposable plastic eggs, right?
Choose eco-friendly Easter baskets
Sadly, by the end of April, we all know we’ll be feeling guilty for chucking out the waste materials and not opting for some organic gift baskets. Since the conventional baskets are often stocked to the brim with toys, candies, and chocolates, you should avoid them and choose eco-friendly Easter baskets that can be used year after year. You can also put in some yummy fair-trade chocolates and turn them into entirely eco-friendly Easter baskets.
How to make eco-friendly Easter baskets?
Easter basket ideas that go above and beyond the traditional ones have us wowed. During the festivities, you should always use what you already have! A white picket fence made of popsicle sticks, handmade paper, or cute mason jars for stuffing in Easter goodies. Remember, the more DIY, the better your Easter basket ideas will be. They’ll be cute, attractive, and one of the most eco-friendly Easter baskets your pals would’ve ever received!
Compost or reuse your eggshells
Easter means there will be more eggshells than usual, lying around. Fortunately, after all the celebrations, these can be reused. Use the remaining yolks and whites in baking, scrambled eggs, and other recipes. You can also compost the broken eggshells in your own home or add them directly to the soil. However, if you don’t have a composting system, crush them and use them as fertilizer in your garden.
How to reuse eggshells at home?
Seedlings can be grown in blown eggshells. Just enlarge the opening that was originally used to blow out the shell, so that you can spoon in some potting soil and plant a few seeds inside. Place them on a sunny window, then water them. If you don’t have egg cups, use an egg carton or a kitchen container.
Pick fair-trade chocolates
On Easter, Americans consume over 16 billion jellybeans. Unfortunately, the same amount of plastic is used to pack these vividly colored foil-coated chocolates for you, which end up in the trash. But we don’t want you to feel bad about it at all, post-Easter. So, the best decision you can make is to choose treats from a local bulk bar to avoid this. You will support your local chocolatier and also save some money while buying in bulk. Alternatively, you can also stuff your eco-friendly Easter basket with fair-trade chocolates from Unreal or Beyond Good.
How to pick fair-trade chocolates?
We’re sure the last thing you want for your kids is plastic-wrapped chocolates; so why not start this year by choosing fair-trade chocolates? But what does it mean? A Fair Trade certified label on your favorite chocolate means that it was not made using child labor. In addition, certified farmers receive a fair trade price for their cocoa beans. Sounds really good, right? So, get on board with us by switching to fair-trade chocolates and candies instead of the usual ones.
Reuse old decor for an eco-friendly Easter
Beautiful Easter baskets do not have to be extravagant! Although it is a beloved custom in many households, the packaging, plastic, confetti, and decorations do contribute to a lot of trash. So, opt for wooden eggs, which can replace foil-wrapped eggs that you can use year after year! It would be a fun way to hide treasure for an Easter hunt, and also, a great alternative to sugary treats.
How to avoid plastic decor items?
Instead of buying plastic bunnies or baskets, why not use old items to celebrate this Easter? You can make your own Easter basket and DIY decor. This will help you save dollars and avoid the waste that comes with store-bought decor. For example, you can paint baskets out of used paper or gift bags, by getting the kids involved too. If you enjoy coloring real eggs, take it a step further by making your own natural dyes, as mentioned above.
Buy secondhand Easter outfits
Thanks to online thrift stores, purchasing secondhand clothing is now easier than ever. Never before have a few clicks from the comfort of your home, led to a refreshed wardrobe saved from landfills. Online thrift stores like Buffalo Exchange and Thred Up offer amazing branded clothing at a fraction of the cost. Kudos, as you’ll have a lot to tell your folks when you’re “Aww‘d” for your Easter outfit!
How to find thrifted outfits this Easter?
Who says that only organic gift baskets can make Easter green? But, of course, you can always end (or begin) with your closet when going the sustainable route. Here are some fantastic thrift stores in the United States where you can secondhand shop today!
This Easter, using any of the above ideas can certainly do more good than harm! Not to forget, if the eco-friendly route is taken by many, holidays like Easter can still be celebrated with love, joy, and of course, sustainability!
Looking for yummy chocolates and candies to make this Easter egg-stra special? We’ve got you covered!
