Easter is fast approaching and with the ever-increasing pressures of climate change, we have been investigating ways to make it a more sustainable celebration too.

One of Easter's main joys is chocolate, which offers the ideal opportunity to indulge, particularly in chocolate eggs!

However, these items also traditionally come with a mountain of superfluous single-use packaging, none of it recyclable but all of it destined for landfill.

Given the negative effects excess packaging and plastic have on our environment, a chocolate egg just doesn't taste quite as delicious when we think about all the layers of single-use material we've fought through to get to it.

Fortunately, there are many brands that offer Easter eggs and alternative chocolate treats without too much packaging or plastic. Look out for them in local supermarkets and independent confectionery shops.

There are many different varieties in minimal or recyclable packaging and a few brands even use sustainable packaging tape and wrap.

When it comes to organising Easter egg hunts and table displays or decorations, we found lots of alternative ideas to using plastic that are just as good if not better, and with a little time spent crafting, could be fun to make too.

For those of us not keen on chocolate, we like the idea of making our own easter egg-shaped cookies and decorating them with sugar paste. Not only are they delicious but they look lovely as a table decoration too. 

Instead of using fillable shop-bought plastic eggs for Easter egg hunts, we love the idea of making fillable felt eggs, decorated wooden eggs or papier mâché eggs, and packing them with small treats.

These can all be upcycled, reused and in the case of papier mâché, are compostable.

Nature also offers many ideas for alternative egg decorations. Rocks are fun to hunt for and paint in bright colours for displays. Decorated blown-out eggs make lovely table decorations and will keep beautifully indefinitely. You can make your own homemade natural dyes from many different food ingredients, just look online for ideas.

So if like us, you are looking to make more sustainable choices and think plastic-free this Easter, hopefully these ideas will inspire you.

To find out more about Plastic Free Farnham and how we work in partnership with the Farnham Rotary Clubs and Farnham Town Council to encourage local businesses and organisations to gain the town plastic free status, please contact us on [email protected]

By Norma Corkish