Now it’s easier to source eco-friendly party bags than ever as a flurry of sites have popped up to solve this conundrum. Parents and party planners are getting more conscientiously green and environmentally aware. ‘Throwing a child’s birthday party no longer means having to head to the door, laden down with sacks of rubbish,’ says ethical party site Little Cherry. ‘You can teach your kids the reduce, re-use and recycle mantra in one party!’
Whether you want to hand out recycled Indian newspaper bags, wooden toys, baking kit or nostalgic craft boxes, these five sites sell epic party bags with a clear conscience.
Cotton Twist
Tired of the plastic tat that her children were bringing home from party bags, mother-of-three Anne-Clare Ribbons launched nostalgic craft gift site Cotton Twist in 2015. At the heart of her business is sustainability. Aesthetically pleasing and functional, her eco-friendly pre-filled party bags include craft instructions and raw materials such as lolly sticks, twine and felt. The recyclable Kraft envelopes are bundled up in all the themes you could ever want and some you’ve never dreamed of. From £5.95 per bag. Shop them here.
Play in Choc
Of course, no children’s party is complete without sugary things, but instead of stockpiling Haribos, why don’t you go for a more environmentally friendly option? Chocolate doesn’t need to be packaged up in plastic. The vegan chocolates from family favourite Play in Choc are wrapped neatly in home compostable film made from wood pulp and plant cellulose. The brown packaging boxes are made with recycled and recyclable paper corrugate and are sealed with paper tape. If you’re looking for a planet-friendly edible party bag, this makes a super option. Accompanying the two pieces of chocolate is a toy animal to assemble making for a popular party gift box. Nifty, eh? From £2.25. Shop them here.
Plastic Free Party Bags
A popular alternative to landfill plastic bags are these eco-friendly newspaper bags made by an NGO whose main objective is to provide education and shelter to street children that came from the streets surrounding New Delhi train station. It is made from recycled Indian newspaper so sometimes your bag will feature a completed crossword, which we think only adds to the charm. The bags come with a wordsearch and an eco hero card encouraging children to look after our planet. Their ready-to-go pre-filled bags are full of eco-friendly toys. What’s more, the site uses a green host meaning it is powered by 100 per cent wind energy. Win, win. Pre-filled bags from £6 each. Shop them here.
Craft and Crumb
Recipe boxes are all the rage. In this busy modern world, convenience is highly prized, so it’s no wonder that Craft and Crumb party boxes of dry ingredients are the ultimate going home treat – for parents and offspring alike. The boxes contain everything you need for the bake and allow the fun to continue well beyond the end of the party. Opt for a marshmallow goo popcorn kit, vegan sweetie strings or a unicorn biscuit kit. Craft and Crumb are committed to reducing the plastic wrapping and waste in their kits. This box is far superior to a plastic snake or tub of slime which are ultimately just stretchy blobs of plastic. From £4.25 each. Shop them here.
Little Cherry
Little Cherry is here to help you change the world, one party at a time. With a little extra thought, your child’s bash can be eco-friendly, rather than a plastic monstrosity. Little Cherry is a one-stop shop for hosting an ethical party, selling everything from biodegradable balloons and cotton bunting to recycled napkins and compostable cups. They pride their wares as less waste, more taste. The Little Cherry party bags are produced in the UK with no plastic packaging. We like their seed bombs and personalised cookie party bags. Shop them here.
By Annabel Jack
February 2023
