Eco-Friendly Easter Ideas the Easter Bunny Would Approve Of

Ah yes. The holiday where we collectively pay money to stuff baskets with neon-green plastic grass… even though real grass exists outside, free of charge. 🌱 With Easter hopping right up on the calendar, let’s talk about how to celebrate in a way that feels joyful, intentional, and a whole lot greener without sacrificing any of the fun.

This guide is all about eco-friendly Easter ideas that focus on experiences, creativity, low budget expense, and sustainability over one-day “wow” moments. I know! That's a lot to fit in a short read but its possible.

Rethinking Easter Decorations

Before buying anything new, take a look at what you already have. This is probably the most common theme in all things sustainable; use what you have. Easter is no exception. Décor for the holiday does not need to scream “EASTER!!!” to feel festive.

Think season not holiday, Spring not Easter.

Spring-themed decorations are:

• More timeless

• Easier to reuse year after year

• Less likely to feel awkward the Monday after Easter

• Way less effort on your part trying to keep up with changing the décor up

Hand-me-down décor is especially special. Even if it’s a little… questionable. Ugly décor with history still wins in my book. It carries stories, memories, and character that brand-new items just don’t have. Like that time your great grandpa tried to carve a egg for his mom and it looked like a block but she decorated with it anyways. THAT is love and beat a "cutesy" statue from the big box store seasonal aisle any day of the week.

Other eco-friendly Easter decorating ideas:

• Handmade decorations

• Secondhand finds

• Mindfully purchased pieces you’ll use for years

• Upcycled items to match the seasonal vibe

If it can’t be reused, repurposed, or loved long-term, it’s probably not worth bringing home.

Building a Sustainable Easter Basket

Start with the Basket Itself

Skip the plastic buckets destined for the landfill.

Instead:

• Thrift a basket

• Support a local basket maker

• Try a DIY basket-making project

• Or reuse one you already have at home

The best basket is the one you didn’t have to buy.

You can even turn it into part of the magic. Dump out whatever was originally inside, leave a silly note from the Easter Bunny saying they forgot a basket, and saw that you had one just laying around anyways so they decided to use it! Kids care far more about what’s inside the basket rather than the basket itself anyway.

The basket from our 2023 Easter Basket giveaway!

Ditch the Plastic Grass

Plastic grass is one of the worst offenders of Easter waste. Maybe just a worst offender overall now that I think of it. It’s nearly impossible if not impossible to recycle and shows up everywhere for months kind of like glitter!

Eco-friendly alternatives:

• REAL grass clippings from your own lawn for FREE

• Shredded paper grocery bags a little upcycle if you will

• Hay or straw if you happen to have access to some

Nature gives us plenty of natural filler options. No plastic required.

Filling the Basket Thoughtfully

A few years ago, I made an Easter basket almost entirely from things I already had at home. The goal was to create something meaningful, eco-friendly, and accessible even for those on tight budgets.

Here’s what worked beautifully:

• Snacks with intention

  Instead of plastic-wrapped candy, I leaned into the theme. What would a bunny snack on? A mason jar of carrots made a perfect addition. Unsurprisingly, kids are often more open to veggies when they feel like they’re coming from the Easter Bunny instead of a parent. So, that makes for an easy parenting gold star for you.

• An activity that grows over time

  A small box of “magical beans” for planting turned into a longer-term outdoor activity. You could also include a notebook and a pencil to write down your kids findings with these magical beans. How long does it take to grow? What color plant does it make? Is it edible and better yet, is it yummy?

• A practical, plastic-free treat

  After egg hunts and garden adventures, a fun, kid-friendly soap is actually useful. A bar like Spriggits Big Bun Bun Soap turns handwashing into part of the fun instead of another piece of clutter.

The BIG Bun Bun Bar Soap

Check it Out

Other Low-Waste Easter Basket Ideas

• Homemade bubble solution in a reusable jar

• A thrifted or hand-me-down clothing item

• Baked goods from home or a local bakery

• Plastic-free candy from a bulk or refill shop

• A secondhand children's book (often under $1)

• sporting equipment for Spring time fun outside

These gifts get used, enjoyed, and remembered. Rather than thrown out in a week.

Eco-Friendly Easter Activities

Natural Egg Dyeing

Egg dye kits are easy, but natural egg dyeing is a fun, educational alternative that’s gentler on kids with sensitivities and a bit healthier too. It also turns Easter prep into a hands-on science experiment using ingredients you may already have in your kitchen.

Where Natural Dyes Come From & The Colors They Create

• Yellow Onion Skins create warm golden hues to deep amber browns

• Red/Purple Onion Skins create rusty reds or soft orange tones

• Beets give soft pinks to deep rose colors

• Turmeric makes a vibrant, sunny yellow

• Red Cabbage starts off blue then like magic can shift to purple depending on a few factors like time and acidity

• Spinach can produce pale green or earthy yellow-green tones

Bonus: many of these scraps might have been composted anyway. It’s science, art, and sustainability all rolled into one activity.

The Easter Egg Hunt, Minus the Plastic

If you already have plastic eggs, reuse them. No guilt required.

If you need alternatives:

• Wooden eggs

• Cardboard eggs

• Metal eggs

• Crocheted or sewn eggs

These can be reused year after year and decorated just like plastic ones.

For older kids:

• Hide real, farm-fresh eggs (unwashed eggs can safely stay unrefrigerated for longer periods)

• Use a prize wheel or egg trade-in system instead of candy inside the eggs

Less sugar. Less plastic. Still egg-citing!🥚

Free, Memory-Making Games

Some of the best Easter fun costs nothing:

• Pin the Tail on the Bunny

• Egg-and-spoon obstacle races

• HOP-scotch

• Scavenger hunts

These activities create laughter and memories, not piles of forgotten toys.

What Not to Gift

Please don’t gift live animals. 🐇Every year after Easter, shelters see an influx of surrendered rabbits once the novelty wears off and the real responsibilities set in.

If you love bunnies:

• Visit a local rescue

• Volunteer

• Learn about rabbit care before making a lifelong commitment

Also skip the pre-made store baskets. They’re usually packed with plastic, filler items, and things kids barely touch after the first five minutes.

A More Meaningful Easter

Life most things in life an eco-friendly Easter isn’t about perfection. It’s about intention.

Choosing:

• Experiences over excess

• Memories over plastic

• Thoughtful gifts over impulse buys

Not only saves money, but deepens connection with your loved ones and keeps unnecessary waste out of the landfill too. If you try any of these ideas or already have eco-friendly Easter traditions of your own, share them in the comments. Inspiration is always better when it’s shared. 🌿🐣