Easter is one of those holidays that puts a smile on everyone’s faces – and not just the kids, either! But, like most holidays, Easter can also result in a huge amount of waste – think bunny costumes, plastic wicker baskets, and fake grass galore.
This year, why not celebrate Easter sustainably with our eight, easy eco-friendly tips on how to celebrate the hoppin’ festival:
1. Choose organic and/or Fairtrade Chocolate
Instead of commercial brands, opt for ethically and locally made chocolates right here in Hong Kong. One of our favourite boutique chocolate makers is Conspiracy Chocolate, who source their ingredients directly from farmers. The brand makes dairy-free, soy-free, mostly gluten-free, and additives-free chocolates; they also have an Easter egg collection available at select locations.
2. Swap out Plastic Eggs
While plastic eggs are a fun, easy, and colourful way to decorate, they are often single-use and even worse, turned away from most recycling facilities. Instead, try wooden or felt Easter eggs instead – the cosy materials even warm up the Easter holiday vibes!
3. Use Real Grass
Easter baskets are often filled with shredded, non-biodegradable plastic grass that ends up polluting our earth. A much greener alternative is shredded paper or natural, dried leaves. Something to look for on your next hike?
4. Gift Something Unforgettable
Gifting is a part of Easter too, and while we all want to see the kids happy with their shiny new toys, offer them a new experience or a meaningful hangout instead. For instance, Ocean Park is reopening on April 21, which makes a fun day out for the family! Alternatively, go for a day out at the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens to get re-acquainted with nature.
5. Get crafty
Instead of buying all your Easter decor, why not spend some quality time with the kids making your own? Some ideas include making Easter baskets out of paper or empty plastic bottles.
6. Choose organic/free-range eggs
Not only are free-range and organic eggs better for hens and the planet, but they have also been found to contain much more nutrition than their cheaper counterparts.
And when you’re done with the Easter egg hunt, don’t just throw them out! As long as the hard-boiled eggs are not dyed with toxic chemicals, they are safe to consume within two weeks. Try these recipes that feature hard-boiled eggs.
7. Use natural dyes
Did you know you can make natural dye from food scraps? Simply add your food scraps of choice to boiling water based on the colour you want. You can use avocado skin to dye your eggs pink; carrots and sweet potato make nice orange tones, and matcha and spinach for various shades of green.
8. Recycle and rewear
Anyone with half a beating heart loves seeing small children dressed up in cute Easter outfits, and we don’t blame you for wanting to get those onesies to remember these precious moments. Just don’t throw them out like trash afterwards – donate Easter outfits or gift them to a friend with younger kids! Retykle and Kids Dress Smart are both great Hong Kong-based resale platforms for second-hand luxury baby and kids clothes.
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