If I told you there were 3 simple steps to happiness, you’d laugh at me...
...and before you start to - I could only manage the next best thing, 3 simple steps to a Sustainable Easter break, enjoy that feel good feeling inside!
If I told you there were three simple steps to happiness, you’d laugh at me...
...and before you start to - I could only manage the next best thing, 3 simple steps to a Sustainable Easter break, enjoy that feel-good feeling inside!
1. Power Down Before You Head Out!
Heading home for a well-deserved Easter break? Awesome! Before you pack your bags and bid farewell to campus, take a quick tour of your room and make sure everything electrical is switched off at the wall.
That means more than just hitting the power button on your laptop or TV. Phantom energy drain from devices left plugged in can still waste electricity (and your money!). So, unplug lamps, chargers (phone, laptop, etc.), gaming consoles, mini-fridges, kettles – anything with a plug!
Think of it as a little going-green mission before you go. A few seconds of your time can make a real difference in reducing energy consumption on campus while you're away. Plus, it's a great habit to get into! Enjoy your break knowing you've done your bit for a more sustainable Easter.
2. Embrace Eco-Friendly Egg Hunts
Instead of relying solely on plastic eggs that can persist in the environment, consider a more sustainable approach to your Easter egg hunt. Opt for reusable options like wooden eggs, fabric pouches, or even simply hiding painted hard-boiled eggs (ensure they are found promptly!).
Get creative with the treats you hide inside. Instead of individually wrapped candies, consider:
- Small, unpackaged treats: Think dried fruit, nuts (if no allergies), or homemade cookies wrapped in a single reusable container.
- Nature-based treasures: Hide small, natural items like smooth stones, interesting leaves, or small pinecones that children can collect.
- Experiences instead of things: Hide clues that lead to a fun activity like planting a seed, drawing a nature scene, or reading a springtime story together.
This step not only reduces plastic waste but also encourages a connection with nature and mindful consumption during your Easter celebrations.
3. Choose Treats That Care: Fairtrade & Sustainable Sweets
Show your family you care! When you’re out buying those Easter eggs, look out for Fairtrade, Organic and RSPO varieties. Why I hear you ask!?
- Fairtrade chocolate (and the other ingredients) mean that farmers and workers are paid a decent wage. Not only that but you’re helping the communities these people live in. The Fairtrade Foundation use the premium on products to help fund community projects and education. Those extra pennies go a long way!
- RSPO – You’ve probably never heard of the RSPO (or if you have, you’re so green you may as well be a tree!) Palm oil has been a massive driver of deforestation and habitat loss, especially in Indonesia. It’s important to keep an eye out for it as you will find it everywhere. Food, shampoo and makeup, just to name a few. Palm oil is sometimes labelled as vegetable oil too, to disguise this environmental baddie. Take a quick look at what the WWF have been doing to help drive up standards in the industry and drive down the environmental destruction of some of the world’s most biodiverse habitats.
Look out for the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil Logo in your shopping basket.
- Organic farming is still a small part of the total food produced in the world. By purchasing organic produce you’re showing your support to a method of farming which has the lowest environmental impact. Providing you with high quality treats whilst maintaining a balance with nature through good farming practices.
(Organic palm oil is grown to some of the highest environmental standards, which is a double whammy of environmental goodness!)
Enjoy your Easter eggs knowing that you’ve done your bit as a good citizen of Earth.