Alternative Easter Gifts

Last year we indulged in over 80 million chocolate easter eggs. The total cost came to around £336 million.

Just think what could be achieved if we spent just half of this on chocolate eggs, and the other half on an alternative to the sugary sweets and chocolates that have become associated with Easter.

As with many times of the year, people are thinking more and more about how their gifts affect people and the world around us, and this is affecting what people are starting to buy for others.

It’s not just the amount of chocolate we get through or the money we spend (which is estimated to be about £520 million), but also the amount of packaging we throw away as a result. Over 4,500 tonnes of cardboard boxes and foil wrapping were chucked away after last Easter, making a harsh impact on our environment too.

Most of the money we spend on Easter eggs goes on the packaging, so make your hard-earned dosh go further than just buying some cheap foil wrapped chocolate, make your money do some good too!

Buy a virtual egg

For just £24 you can buy a hundred eggs. How? By providing a village in Bangladesh with ducks. Ducks can be sold at market, will provide a family with fresh eggs to eat and sell to provide an income, especially after the recent floods which devastated certain areas.

Buy ducks for £24 from Present Aid and provide a real Easter Egg

Buy a Green Easter Gift

Offset your carbon footprint and that of others, by giving a tree as an Easter gift. This wild Cherry Tree will bloom with pretty pink or white blossoms when spring arrives It’ll last for years and produce lots of lovely red berries for the birdies, as well as using up all our carbon dioxide!

Buy a Cherry Tree from Ethical Superstore for £35.00

Buy a practical Easter gift

At Easter, eggs are used to symbolise re-birth and fertility. Ok so you can’t grow eggs, but what about this practical gift? Seeds for farmers in Zambia will ensure local families get a good crop of fresh vegetables to last them the whole year.

Buy them for £18 from Practical Presents

Buy Fairtrade Eggs

If you must buy a chocolate egg, why not make sure it is a Fairtrade one, to ensure the workers who have slaved over it get a fair pay deal to support themselves and their families.

Divine do a fabulous range of Fairtrade Easter Eggs at Ethical Superstore, so how about this pack of delicious sugar coated, speckled mini eggs. Not only are they fairtrade, but they have minimal packaging too!

Only £1.49 from Ethical Superstore

Happy Ethical Easter!