Easter eggs and the status quo
It’s early February but Easter eggs have already been on the shelves for weeks in some shops and we know that some people buy theirs early so here goes…
An estimated 80 million chocolate Easter eggs are sold annually in the UK.
According to the Retail Data Partnership, Cadbury has a 20% share of the UK confectionary market at Easter, with the top 10 selling brands as follows:
1. Cadbury
2. Nestle
3. Haribo
4. Wrigley’s
5. Galaxy
6. Kinder
7. Maltesers
8. Maynards Bassetts
9. Swizzels
10. M&M’s
No surprises there perhaps. And sadly, no brands known for their eco-friendly or ethical credentials make the list. Luckily, we’ve made you one below…
What to consider when buying Easter eggs
While some of the leading brands have recently re-thought their packaging, including seeking to reduce or eliminate their use of plastic, as we always say at Plastic Free Home, what’s on the inside counts too.
Don’t forget to look at the company making the product and it’s ethical and sustainability credentials, the ingredients used and the supply chain involved. As a general rule of thumb, is something seems comparatively cheap, somebody is being squeezed somewhere along the line.
When buying Easter eggs, look at whether a product is Fairtrade (or similarly accredited), to help ensure that the chocolate has been ethically grown and sourced, with workers’ rights and pay better protected as part of the supply chain.
You may also want to consider whether your Easter eggs are organic, vegan, dairy free or palm oil free, depending on your personal preferences, and of course, plastic free.
Our top 5 eco-friendly Easter eggs
So, the best bit… Our top five recommendations when it comes to eco-friendly Easter eggs are:
Brand | Fairtrade (or similar) | Organic | Vegan | Plastic free |
Divine Chocolat Easter Egg | Yes | No | Optional | Yes |
Tony’s Chocolonely Easter Eggs | Yes | No | No | Yes |
Ttaiscrat – The Real Easter Egg | Yes | No | No | Yes |
Montezuma’s Organic Easter Egg | Yes | Yes | Optional | No |
Moo Free Easter Egg | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
These brands are widely available online, at certain major supermarkets or better still, often found in zero waste shops and ethical retailers.
And, it goes without saying, if you can avoid all of the gimmicks at Easter time, from fancy dress kids will wear once to baskets, bonnets and toys.
Have an Egg-Stra Special Easter…
You can find us on Facebook by searching for Plastic Free Home or at www.facebook.com/plasticfreehomeuk.