Bunnies, chocolate, egg hunts and baskets; Easter may not be as excessive as Christmas but it has its share of consumerism.
A National Retail Federation Survey estimates that there will be $1.
9 billion profit from Easter candy alone this year.
Just the amount of Peeps Chicks and Bunnies eaten at Easter could circle the earth.
However, it doesn't have to be all sugar and waste; here are some steps to make your Easter greener: 1.
Easter Basket Get a high-quality wooden basket and re-use it so it will last for years.
You can reuse baskets for gathering flowers, vegetables, or to hold things like fruit or magazines.
Or just re-use it for next Easter, my son has used the same basket for 5 years and it's still going strong.
2.
Grass Plastic is made from petroleum and does not break down in a landfill.
Instead of plastic grass for Easter baskets, consider using real or paper grass which can be composted or recycled afterward.
3.
Chocolate Global Exchange estimates that approximately 284,000 children are employed abusive labor conditions in West Africa's cocoa fields.
Many cocoa companies pay so low that many farmers cannot meet their basic needs.
Instead buy organic fair trade chocolate.
Organic to reduce the impact of pesticides and fertilizers on the environment.
Fair trade to make sure that forced and abusive child labor are prohibited, farmers get an adequate price and environmentally sustainable production methods are used in the making of chocolate for your loved one.
Not calorie free but definitely guilt free.
Look for the chocolates with the least amount of packaging, and avoid the small chocolate eggs wrapped in foil.
4.
Candy Buy candy that's been made with real fruits, fruit juice and natural colors, avoid artificial colors.
Instead of candy, consider eco-friendly toys and natural art supplies.
5.
Eggs According to the Humane Society of the United States, there are approximately 280 million laying hens in the United States, over 95% of which are confined in battery cages-cages so restrictive the birds can't spread their wings.
There are a number of choices, look for these options: Certified Organic, Certified Humane, Free Range or Free Roaming, and Cage-Free.
What about those plastic eggs filled with treats and used for egg hunts? Plan on re-using the same plastic eggs year on year.
Or even better, how about a fun family project making paper mache eggs instead and using them for egg hunts as a earth-friendly alternative? See instructions here.
If you are using real eggs, dye your organic free range eggs with beets, onion skins, red cabbage, and spinach.
See the instructions here.
A National Retail Federation Survey estimates that there will be $1.
9 billion profit from Easter candy alone this year.
Just the amount of Peeps Chicks and Bunnies eaten at Easter could circle the earth.
However, it doesn't have to be all sugar and waste; here are some steps to make your Easter greener: 1.
Easter Basket Get a high-quality wooden basket and re-use it so it will last for years.
You can reuse baskets for gathering flowers, vegetables, or to hold things like fruit or magazines.
Or just re-use it for next Easter, my son has used the same basket for 5 years and it's still going strong.
2.
Grass Plastic is made from petroleum and does not break down in a landfill.
Instead of plastic grass for Easter baskets, consider using real or paper grass which can be composted or recycled afterward.
3.
Chocolate Global Exchange estimates that approximately 284,000 children are employed abusive labor conditions in West Africa's cocoa fields.
Many cocoa companies pay so low that many farmers cannot meet their basic needs.
Instead buy organic fair trade chocolate.
Organic to reduce the impact of pesticides and fertilizers on the environment.
Fair trade to make sure that forced and abusive child labor are prohibited, farmers get an adequate price and environmentally sustainable production methods are used in the making of chocolate for your loved one.
Not calorie free but definitely guilt free.
Look for the chocolates with the least amount of packaging, and avoid the small chocolate eggs wrapped in foil.
4.
Candy Buy candy that's been made with real fruits, fruit juice and natural colors, avoid artificial colors.
Instead of candy, consider eco-friendly toys and natural art supplies.
5.
Eggs According to the Humane Society of the United States, there are approximately 280 million laying hens in the United States, over 95% of which are confined in battery cages-cages so restrictive the birds can't spread their wings.
There are a number of choices, look for these options: Certified Organic, Certified Humane, Free Range or Free Roaming, and Cage-Free.
What about those plastic eggs filled with treats and used for egg hunts? Plan on re-using the same plastic eggs year on year.
Or even better, how about a fun family project making paper mache eggs instead and using them for egg hunts as a earth-friendly alternative? See instructions here.
If you are using real eggs, dye your organic free range eggs with beets, onion skins, red cabbage, and spinach.
See the instructions here.