We continue our series of articles on zero waste! And yes, the holidays can also be organised in zero waste mode. Easter is fast approaching... a religious and symbolic holiday where we gather as a family but with our consumer society, it rhymes today with tons of chocolate and gifts of all kinds. If we have decided to adopt a zero waste approach, we can quickly abandon our good resolutions when the holidays arrive. However, there are a few tips on how to enjoy this holiday without falling under a mountain of waste!
About chocolate...
Did you know that you can buy chocolate eggs or chocolate bars without packaging? The offer of bulk packaging has expanded in recent years, even for chocolate. White chocolate, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, praline... There is something for everyone!
A great idea is to take advantage of this holiday to get together with your family (in your own bubble) and bake. Why not try homemade chocolate truffles or rochers? It's easy to make and so good. If you're really motivated, you can even try making homemade chocolate eggs.
What about the egg hunt then...
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Organising an egg hunt in the garden with loose chocolate is not ideal. As an alternative, you can wrap the chocolate eggs in small pieces of (scrap) fabric and fold them into the shape of a rabbit. You and your children can also decorate pebbles from the garden, hard-boiled eggs or wooden eggs with paint. Hide them in your garden or in the house and exchange them for real chocolate eggs after the hunt.
For decoration...
The principle for zero waste decoration is reuse. Try to use what you already have at home and create as much as possible with your hands, you will be more satisfied. Give preference to durable materials and "noble" materials such as wood and glass (or fabric for example). The aim is to avoid anything that is superfluous or disposable.
For example, you can make your own table decorations with colourful fabrics, cardboard bunnies (from the toilet paper roll) and chickens, make decorations with wooden eggs, decorate a wicker basket, etc. You can find a whole range of ideas on the internet. Plus, it's a great way to keep the kids busy during the holidays.
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For gifts...
If you are used to giving gifts for Easter, there are also some tips on how to reduce your waste.
For gifts, try to focus on durable gifts such as wooden toys.
When wrapping gifts, you can use the magic alternative: furoshiki! Fabric wrappings that you can buy or make yourself to avoid superfluous wrapping. They can be reused for future celebrations: birthdays, St. Nicholas, Christmas, etc.
HAPPY EASTER!
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