JACKSON, Wyo. — Looking for ways to celebrate Easter while minimizing the holiday’s environmental impact? Consider these eco-friendly tips.
Greet the Easter bunny with eco-options that can help save money, reduce plastic and cut reliance on disposable products and chemicals.
Instead of purchasing plastic eggs that are not recyclable, fillable papier-mâché easter eggs or non-toxic, plastic-looking eggs made from plants can hold hidden treats. Egg-shaped bath bombs and DIY eggs made out of fabric or cardboard egg cartons can also be used for egg hunts. Another idea is to purchase compostable paper eggs, or hide the old-fashioned decorated hard-boiled egg.
According to Alter Eco Foods, natural egg dyes are an alternative to chemically synthesized dyes, and can be made at home using carrot, spinach, red cabbage, beet and turmeric. Simply boil the ingredients with water and vinegar, then let the eggs soak in the dye for a naturally colorful result.
Another way to reduce the use of disposable plastic is by making grass out of fabric and/or paper, or skipping basket grass altogether.
Alter Eco Foods also shares the idea of swapping the traditional Easter basket with one made from natural materials, like bamboo, seagrass or woven straw. Reusable baskets, tote bags, wooden crates or even recycled cardboard boxes can be used as Easter baskets. Some additional ideas are to recycle the Easter basket each year or find a used one.
Easter is just not Easter without candy, but the bunny can always bring organic jelly beans and fair trade chocolate, along with other holiday favorites. Purchasing organic, local eggs might not save money, but it can reduce environmental impacts.
Buckrail shares this story annually.
