Why is it important?

We all know the excitement of the long weekend. Waking up and eating chocolate for breakfast is allowed on two holidays only, Christmas and Easter. The supermarkets have been stocking up since January and I guarantee 99% of us have already had a treat a little early (there’s no judgement here). 

But the waste created by Easter leaves a not so sweet taste in the mouth. Did you know “in the UK we buy more than 80 million boxed chocolate Easter eggs each year and it is estimated that more than 8,000 tonnes of waste are generated from this packaging each year.”

That’s a lot, especially as not all companies have switched to fully plastic free packaging yet. So what can we do to make sure we have the most sustainable Easter yet?

The Basics

So an easy transition to a less wasteful Easter would be to buy chocolate that is wrapped in fully recyclable materials. The most sustainable materials are aluminum foil and cardboard.

Remember to scrunch or bundle all your foil together to make a size of a golf ball or larger, this makes it easier to recycle! It’s also worth making sure it’s foil that is definitely recyclable so you don’t contaminate your other pieces. You can do this by...

“Do[ing] the scrunch test to check whether your shiny wrapper is aluminium foil or plastic film: scrunch the wrapper in your hand - if it springs back open it’s not recyclable foil.”

Stay Ethical

Something that isn’t considered every Easter is the impact the cocoa industry has on slavery in third world countries. Now we’re not going to pretend like we’re fully fledged experts on the problem but we know a company that can explain. Over to Tony’s Chocolonely…

“The Problem: Things aren't being shared evenly in the chocolate supply chain. The chain starts with millions of farmers who produce cocoa and ends with the billions of consumers who enjoy chocolate. But what about the bit in the middle? This section is dominated by a handful of chocolate giants that profit from keeping the price of cocoa as low as possible. As a result, farmers are forced to live in poverty. And that leads to illegal child labour and modern slavery.”

So why not switch from egg to bar (it’s 2021 after all!) and go with the most ethical chocolate out there! Available with a dairy free option as well, so not only can you chow on chocolate that you know has been responsibly sourced but also kick the dairy all at the same time. 

Winner.

Baskets and Bunny Ears

It wouldn’t be Easter without a basket to collect goodies in and a pair of rabbit ears! Instead of buying new (and most probably with plastic involved) why not give these eco-ideas a go! 

We’ve seen heaps of wicker/wooden baskets on our secondhand Facebook groups and on Marketplace. If there’s nothing directly in your area, why not ask in one of your local groups to see if you could pick up one secondhand or even just borrow one for the day!

The supermarkets are usually chocca (pun intended) with plastic headbands and bunny ears at this time of year. Why not get the kids involved and try making them this year. There’s a great DIY video here from Happy Crafty! 

A Different Gift Idea

Maybe you’ve outgrown Easter eggs, or maybe you’re looking for something with a touch more sentimental value (or with less calories)? We have a great basket filler for you!

Seedballs are a fabulous, plastic-free gift that’s perfect for spring. Now is the best time to scatter Seedballs in order to have a brighter, more colourful year ahead. Not to mention that they’re great for encouraging wildlife in your back garden!

Why not create a wild haven for bees, butterflies and other pollinators this summer by buying something delicious for them as well.

We’d love to hear your eco-friendly ideas for Easter. Tag us in your social posts @GreenPearEco