As we begin to enjoy the lighter evenings and as Easter quickly approaches, the thought of easter egg hunts and, most importantly, chocolate will be on everybody’s mind. Easter is a joyous time full of celebration, spending quality time with family and friends and exchanging gifts such as Easter eggs and paper crafts.
Despite Easter being a key holiday in the calendar year, it is also a holiday filled with mass consumerism which has proven to have negative effects on the environment. This year, Easter is celebrated between the 7th and 10th of April. However, Easter eggs are widely available to consumers months in advance, with supermarket shelves stocked with chocolate eggs from a variety of confectionery giants. It is estimated that around 80 million Easter eggs are sold across the UK each year, with many chocolate eggs boxed within packaging that is not always favourable to the environment.
Research shows that 3,000 tonnes of packaging waste is produced in the UK each year as a result of Easter packaging. Climate issues are at the forefront of both governmental and public agendas, and with this in mind, brands must step up and act in helping Easter become greener. Let’s look at some of the best examples of brands becoming more eco-friendly this Easter.
Waitrose
UK supermarket Waitrose released their Easter range at the beginning of this year, announcing a reduction in Easter packaging, which is set to save almost one tonne of plastic from going to landfill. The retailer has removed plastic trays and windows from their Easter packaging, helping to reduce overall packaging weight by 20%. Waitrose stated that the popularity of their Easter range had risen this year, with website searches for ‘Easter Eggs’ up 110%, which in turn will help consumers shop more sustainably this Easter.
Love Cocoa
Luxury eco-friendly chocolate brand Love Cocoa are no newcomer to the world of sustainability, eliminating all plastic from their packaging back in 2021. The UK confectionery brand introduced new marbled eggs to their Easter offering this year, with each luxurious egg showcasing 100% plastic-free packaging. To add to their sustainable commitments, Love Cocoa’s Easter range supports the brand’s ‘Plant A Tree’ scheme, which has already supported planting over 1.5 million trees in countries such as Cameroon and Kenya.
Hobbycraft
UK-based arts and crafts company, Hobbycraft, is also taking steps to become more sustainable this Easter. The retailer is offering more Easter crafts and decorations than ever before, with many lines available in recyclable or reusable packaging, with a major reduction in plastic packaging the key to success. Hobbycraft announced that they have removed 324,000 pieces of plastic from their Easter packaging this year, a significant reduction compared to 2022.
These are just some examples of brands making a statement to becoming more eco-conscious this Easter. As a consumer, you can help contribute to an eco-friendly Easter by looking out for Easter eggs and decorations that use less plastic packaging or that can be easily re-used or recycled.
Looking for a sustainable solution to contribute towards your organisation’s environmental targets? Contact our team to discuss how we can help find a packaging solution tailored to your specific requirements.