Now, it seems to be a tradition for most eco-friendly sites to see a national holiday on the horizon and begin deriding it with consumerist attacks and facts about how Christmas will one day end the world. So, for a little less drama, and in view of a touch more seasonal spirit – Here’s to Easter! Spring’s celebration of new starts and chocolate eggs. And in light of this change of tone – from fire and brimstone, to chocolate and Sunday roast – here’s three of the best ways to make your Easter a little more ethical.

The Egg

There are a variety of ethical options available directly from your local supermarket and convenience stores, just follow the blue-ribbon FairTrade seal of approval as a guide. But if you were looking for that bit more to send your little ones (or big ones) off on an Easter Egg Hunt, here are a few option brought to the market by Greenpeace UK.

• The Virtual Easter Egg: this egg might be more suitable for the older Easter Egger who is still looking to get in on the action but doesn’t need the excitement of chocolate and foil buzzing through their bodies all day. The Virtual Easter Egg is a donation made to Greenpeace UK to help support their all-year-round hard work. It comes in three varieties, each representing one of their key campaigns: the Forest Egg will help Greenpeace’s forest campaign, working to protect forests in areas such as the Amazon, by investigating and exposing companies that destroy forests to make products such as beef and leather; the Ocean Egg will help the Greenpeace campaign for more selective fishing methods to be used and to support emerging marine reserves where no fishing is allowed; and the Climate Egg provides a donation to Greenpeace’s campaign against climate change by taking action against airport expansion and championing clean energy solutions, with the aim of safeguarding species under threat from around the world.
  
• Booja Booja Truffle: if the amount of wasted packaging is something that really gets your back up, then this egg is definitely for you. As well as being 100% organic, wheat and gluton free, dairy free, GMO free, vegan and vegetarian friendly, this little number comes in a hand painted box made from renewable poplar wood, providing Kashmiri artisans with a sustainable income.
  
• The Chocolate Alchemist: for some, the sheer fact that this egg looks and tastes unbelievable will not be enough to swing them into surprising a loved one with it. The egg is sold at Planet Organic in London, but stocks are selling fast. Could it be due to the organic chocolate? The offset carbon distribution? Or the whimsical truth that all the employees who helped create The Chocolate Alchemist take it upon themselves to cycle their bikes to work – ever the carbon custodians! Which ever one of these revelations you find pleasurable, it will only add to the total experience.

And if none of the above takes your fancy, then remember that Green and Black’s chocolate has recently gone FairTrade with a dedication to reduce their packaging by 60%. Hotel Chocolate also follow a fairtrade policy – be it one that doesn’t tote the blue ribbon. Their ‘Engaged Ethics policy’ follows many of the same routes a fairtrade chocolatier will take you down, but with a further option of luxury along the way. But, whatever your fancy is this Easter, make sure its a happy one.

Happy Easter, From all at EcoSwitch.