7 Sustainable Ways to Celebrate Easter
Easter has quietly become… a lot.
Plastic eggs. Candy wrappers. Tiny toys that break before you get home. Gifts for your cousin’s cousin.
Somehow, every year, there’s more of it.
This year, I want to encourage all of us to try something a little different.
Not perfect. Not zero-waste. Just a little more intentional.
1. Rethink the eggs
If you already have plastic eggs from years past — amazing. Keep using them. Truly. Reusing more is absolutley a goal.
But if you’re starting fresh, it’s worth pausing for a second. So many of these eggs are used once, then tucked away (or tossed), and quietly become part of a much bigger plastic problem.
We’ve been experimenting with cloth eggs instead — you can either make them yourself from scrap fabric or find them on Etsy. They’re softer, easier to store, fully biodegradable (if using natural fabrics like cotton) and somehow feel more special. Ours were made by my mother-in-law (who kindly and happily whipped up 150 for an upcoming Little Oak Event), and they’ve completely changed how I think about the whole thing.
Check out @woodlark for a tutorial on how to make some yourself: https://woodlarkblog.com/diy-fabric-easter-eggs/
2. Skip the plastic trinkets
You know the ones.
The sticky hands. The tiny rings. The novelty stamps that barely work.
They’re fun for about five minutes — and then they disappear.
Short joy. Long waste.
We’ve started skipping these entirely and leaning into secondhand finds instead. It’s become a bit of a tradition to go “treasure hunting” before holidays — and honestly, the finds are better. More sustainable and more affordable.
In Chicago, some of our go-tos:
The Brown Elephant (the Andersonville location is a trip in itself, my husband and I always joke that it should honestly be a club venue)
Past Finds: Skateboard, Igloo Building Kit, Lizard Toy, Board Games
Play It Again Sports
Past Finds: Bike bell, Tennis Racket (but you can also always call them and ask if you are looking for something specific. They’re great!)
Once Upon a Child
Past Finds: The most unnecessarily large Paw Patrol tower, clothes! especially holiday clothing, stroller
And of course Goodwill and Salvation Army
Past Finds: Rocketship, more Board Games, Books
If you’re looking for something specific, eBay or even a quick ask in your school or parent group can work wonders.
This year, we needed a bigger bike — I asked in a whatsapp parent group from school, and sure enough, another mom had exactly what my son wanted, in his favorite color. Purple.
3. Reimagine the candy
This one is tricky. Sugar has engrained its way into the celebration — no judgment here.
But most Easter candy comes wrapped individually in unnecessary layers of plastic which aren’t recyclable, and it adds up quickly.
We’ve started shifting toward treats from local bakeries or small candy shops — the kind where you can use paper bags or pick out a few special things instead of a pile of individually wrapped ones. It feels more intentional, and honestly, more special.
If you have the time, baking something at home is even better. We love a good baking session at our house — a little messy, a lot of fun — and the kids are just as excited about the process as the end result. Make a big batch, freeze most and it doesn’t add any additional preparation stress for the big day. Just take it out of the freezer the day before.
It’s a small shift, but one that changes the whole feel of the day.
Food Inspiration: M&M cookies from First Day of Home, Bird Nests from InsiderMama
4. Decline the additional basket
Easter baskets have a way of quietly accumulating.
Between events, gifts, and well-meaning extras, it’s easy to end up with more than you need — often without even realizing it. Be it the plastic ones offered at events or the threaded ones that come with care packages.
Before buying anything new, take a quick look around. You might already have a basket tucked away that’s perfect for the occasion.
If you don’t have one yet, this is a great opportunity to choose something you’ll actually want to reuse. Look for baskets made from natural materials, or check secondhand shops — you can find some really beautiful ones.
If you’re heading to an event, consider bringing your own basket along. It’s a small thing, but it helps avoid collecting another one you didn’t plan for. And chances are the one you bring will be cooler. One beautiful basket is more than enough.
5. Focus on the experience
Somewhere along the way, Easter became a bit more about gifts than it used to be.
I’ve felt it too — the quiet pressure to add just one more thing. Another treat, another surprise, another “just because.” It sneaks in easily.
We’ve been trying to shift that back, even just a little.
In our family, my brother-in-law started something called the “bunny games.” It’s exactly what it sounds like: a series of slightly ridiculous, highly competitive games that somehow involve everyone. Kids, adults, no exceptions.
The winner? Honor. That’s it.
My son can absolutely tell you about the bunny games (and yes, there’s also a reindeer games winter edition). Could he tell you what gifts he got last Easter? Probably not.
That’s the part I keep coming back to.
The magic isn’t really in the stuff. It’s in the connection. The laughter. The slightly chaotic moments that bring everyone together. Especially after a Chicago winter, there’s something about stepping into spring like that, together, that just feels right. And when you lean into that, it starts to feel like enough.
So instead of another trip to Target, maybe spend that time planning a game. It doesn’t have to be elaborate, just something that gets everyone involved. That’s the part they’ll remember.
I tried to find pictures of our actual Bunny Games, but sure enough, we all were having too much fun and no one took pictures.
6. Rethink the decor
Flowers feel like the obvious choice this time of year — but many are anything but low-impact.
Most commercially sold cut flowers in the US are not sustainable. The industry relies on high-energy, refrigerated air transport over thousands of miles, heavy pesticide use, and high water consumption. Seasonal decorations can have a similar issue. A lot of what’s sold this time of year is made from mixed materials (plastic, dyes, coatings), which makes it difficult — if not impossible — to recycle. And because it’s tied to a specific holiday, it often gets used once and stored or discarded.
Instead, we’ve started using what’s already around us.
If you’re in Chicago right now, you’ve probably noticed — there are branches everywhere. Pussy willow, fallen twigs and branches, bits of early spring.
We bring them inside, put them in a vase, and decorate them with whatever we already have — eggs, old decorations, kids’ easter drawings. It ends up feeling more personal, and honestly, more connected to the season itself.
Need flowers? I get it. Try to source flowers sustainably, prioritize locally grown, avoid non-biodegradable floral foam, and look for certifications like Fair Trade, Veriflora or Bloomcheck.
Decor Inspiration: Pussy Willow from On Sutton Place, Natural Easter Eggs by Olga in the Kitchen, Easter Tree from thehandmadehome.net
7. Be sure to compost
If you’re hosting, this is one small shift that can make a big difference. And may just have a ripple effect of others doing it too!
Food waste in landfills produces methane, a greenhouse gas that’s significantly more potent than CO₂. Composting helps divert that — and it’s easier than it sounds.
If you already compost, just set out a clearly labeled bin for guests to use. If you don’t, make Easter your kick-off! There are even free drop-off locations across Chicago. Find the closest to you here. Or consider signing up with wastenot compost.
It’s one of those small changes that feels surprisingly impactful.
Final Thoughts…
Maybe Easter doesn’t need more things.
Maybe it’s a chance to return to what it’s always been about —
renewal, connection, and small moments of wonder.This isn’t about doing everything “right.”
It’s about:
doing a little less
reusing a little more
and choosing what actually matters
Start with one thing. That’s enough.
Invitation for Chicagoans
And if you happen to be in Chicago this year, join me on April 4th for Seeds of Action at the Climate Action Museum. A thoughtful, nature-rooted Easter experience for children and families. It’s a community, pay-what-you-can event, but registration is required as space is limited.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hi, I’m Nicole.
Mom of 2 and Founder of Little Oak Events — creating thoughtful, low-waste celebrations that feel as good as they look. After 10+ years in the tech startup world, I traded product launches and roadshows for real-life moments of the heart. If you’re dreaming up something beautiful, intentional, and a little different, I’d love to help bring it to life.