Easter is a wonderful time of year to celebrate and have some fun whilst also enjoying some time off to relax. The spring blooms decorate the festivities in beautiful bright colours.
Unfortunately some of the traditions can have a negative effect on the environment. Aside from potentially attending church services, do you plan on providing children baskets or going on an Easter egg hunt? If you operate under the belief that such beloved traditions have to be sacrificed to support the environment, think again. Here are 10 ways to celebrate Easter in an eco-friendly way!
1. Use non-plastic eggs
If you want to make your egg hunt more considerate of nature, there are several options at your disposal. Instead of plastic, take an opportunity to explore arts and crafts by painting your real eggshells. You can also make them from clay, plaster of paris and other eco friendly materials.
2. Ensure eggs are coloured with natural dyes
While eggs represent a beloved staple of the celebration, many dyes purchased from stores are full of chemicals that poison freshwater ecosystems and seep into natural waterways. Consider dyes made from organic ingredients or make them yourself using fruits, spices, and vegetables found in your home kitchen!
3. Use organic, free-range eggs
It's always tempting to reach for the cheapest option at the store with the largest bulk for eggs. However, free-range hens are fed with a far more nutritious, organic diet that is better for the planet. Furthermore, organic eggs contain more than twice the Vitamin E, 40% more Vitamin A, and additional omega-3 fatty acids. Healthier is cleaner!
4. Compost eggshells
Do not forget to compost the shells themselves to not have waste. In the event you prefer or require reusable materials to insert trinkets and candies within, use eggs made with plant-based materials instead. They are nontoxic, bisphenol A (BPA) free, and made from 100% renewable resources in the USA.
5. Use Easter Grass that is Eco-Friendly
The little specks of green grass found in various decorations are synonymous with Easter traditions and get everywhere when attempting to clean. Although green grass makes for a fun decoration, it is not considered eco-friendly in the slightest. More often than not, it typically ends up in the trash, taking an eternity to break down. The good news is there are many alternatives that exist. Green construction paper can be shredded to create the illusion of grass and can be recycled after the festivities. If color is not a matter of concern, one can simply reuse shredded paper. Many merchants even sell crinkle cut paper in multiple colors composed of 100% recycled paper. Afterward, it can be reused or placed into recycling. Seed paper is composed of 100% post-industrial recycling and uses vegetable-based dyes. You can even plant the paper and grow flowers in soil with it when you're finished!
6. Create an Easter Baskets that is Eco-Friendly
Once you have found the perfect environmentally sound Easter grass, the next step is putting together an Easter basket that follows suit. Skip the flimsy, cheap plastic baskets in substitution for a material that can be used every year. Consider willow baskets for children. For their first few years, you can simply fill it with goods. When they get older, the baskets can be decorated for personalization. After several more years pass, the basket can simply be reused as a storage container around the house. Inside the basket, you can populate the goods with eco-friendly options like wooden toys as they last significantly longer than plastic.
7. Buy Easter Chocolate and sweets that are Eco-Friendly
Chocolate bunnies and their ears are cute as well as tasty. The issue is in the way they are packaged. With the vast majority contained inside a foil wrapper whose box is wrapped in plastic, chocolate products produce a lot of unwanted trash. This does not even take into consideration the harm done to land when farmers produce cocoa. It's not necessary to completely eliminate chocolate from your Easter celebration. Several alternatives exist. Try choosing a chocolate brand that is Fair Trade Certified, designed to ensure cocoa farmers have environmentally friendly and safe working conditions with fair pay. You can also find easter eggs that use minimal packaging rather than the usual ones which are wasteful with plastic inserts.
8. Prepare the Get-Together
If you are fortunate enough to be surrounded with a complete arrangement of family and friends for Easter, consider mandating the removal of disposables. Create a potluck feast where everyone brings their own plate to maximize convenience and reduce dish-washing to a minimum. This way, everyone has a plate to take home desired leftovers for no wasted food.
9. Value Experiences Over Objects
Easter baskets, while already hazardous to the environment, are very wasteful. Matters are made worse when purchasing new eggs every year. Rather than engender a materialistic culture for children, offer them a gift that can be shared and experienced together instead of a toy they may forget about by the following month. A trip to the zoo, a visit to the park, or even a cooking class makes for engaging experiences.
10. Sustainable outfits
There's nothing more adorable than children dressed to the nines in pastels. To be eco-friendly, opt for an outfit that is environmentally sustainable. Go for second-hand stores for low priced, high-quality options that will not introduce waste. Many online thrift stores sell name-brand clothes at a fraction of the cost. Best part? It will make for an exciting story to tell friends.
