Isabella Escamilla, Zero Waste Humboldt Intern
Every spring, Easter has been routinely celebrated by partaking in a wide range of activities, including egg hunts and visits from Easter bunnies. While this holiday has a different meaning for everyone, many kids spend the day embracing bunny, candy, and egg-related activities. However, as I have gotten older I have realized that this holiday produces a lot of plastic. Luckily, there are simple ways to make Easter celebrations and events more sustainable and eco-friendly.
When most people think of Easter, eggs frequently come to mind. The plastic eggs that are used for Easter egg hunts are produced with fossil fuels, but can easily be replaced with compostable eggs. There are many types of compostable eggs that you can buy, but you can also make them yourself by using recycled paper, cardboard, or natural fibers. This way you have something to put goodies in for Easter egg hunts that are compostable and more sustainable than plastic eggs.
Another way to prevent waste from Easter egg hunts is by using hard boiled eggs. This way the eggs won’t go to waste, since they can be used in dishes, and the egg scraps can be composted. Making sure that these eggs are organic, from small farms and free range, is a great way to ensure the chickens were treated ethically and that the eggs came from farms that practiced sustainable farming. The locally-based farm Foggy Bottom Boys sells high quality eggs and prioritizes sustainability, so I would recommend them. When it comes to dying eggs, instead of using synthetic dyes that have harmful chemicals, opt for natural alternatives. By boiling purple onions, beets, or other colorful vegetables, you can use these extracted liquids to dye your hard boiled Easter eggs. If you are vegan or don’t eat eggs, don’t worry—there are so many alternatives to using real eggs. If you have children, you can set up a scavenger hunt by hiding reusable items that would make unique gifts for younger children.
For many, especially younger audiences, candies and chocolates are a pivotal part of Easter. Unfortunately, a lot of Easter candy is wrapped in single-use packaging and produced by large corporations that don’t prioritize sustainability. In terms of chocolate, I would recommend the local brand Cacao Cocoon. They sweeten their chocolate with honey, are fair trade and vegan, and use compostable packaging. In terms of candy and chocolates that are bunny and chick-related, you can always try making them from scratch at home. This way there is less energy spent on transportation and less single-use packaging.
Easter baskets are a pivotal part of the holiday, so why not use ones that are reusable! At second hand stores there are many reusable baskets that are cute and affordable. If you don’t want to buy anything, you can also look around your house for any old flower baskets. This way, you have a personal reusable Easter basket that can be used for many years to come. Earth Day is in April, so what better way to celebrate than by having an eco-friendly Easter!