What To Include In Your Eco Friendly Party Bags

Want to make your party bags more eco friendly but don’t know where to start? This post is for you.

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There’s no denying it: children love party bags!

I remember when I was younger I used to love receiving a party bag. In fact, it was probably my favourite part about going to parties. It’s the element of surprise that makes it so exciting. And you can’t deny that getting free stuff is great, too.

Party bags usually have an assortment of things like cake, chocolates, balloons, bubbles, toys, and things of that nature. For most kids, this is enough to get them excited. But if you’re planning an eco friendly birthday party, you might be worried about how you can make your party bags sustainable AND fun.

Don’t worry, I’ve put together a list of sustainable items that would be perfect for your party bags. And they’re all low cost, too!

7 Items For Your Eco Friendly Party Bags

This list contains items suitable for most children ages 3 – 7. But remember to check the label and instructions to see if it would be suitable for your child and age group. Enjoy!

1. Cake

Let them have cake!

Most children love to receive cake, so it’s a good idea to include some in the party bag. To make it more sustainable, choose a cake with minimal packaging or make one yourself. If you don’t want to tackle a whole cake, why not try making brownies or cupcakes? A lot of kids love baking, so you can see if they want to get involved with making something ahead of the party.

There’s often a lot of cake leftover after a party, so by putting a piece in each party bag, you’re preventing waste. The kids are happy and so are you!

2. Recycled Pencils

Most children use pencils, so it’s a really practical item to include in your eco friendly gift bags. This pack of 3 pencils by VENT * is made from recycled CD cases here in the UK. They look bright and colourful, so the children will love them. What’s more is they are packaged in recycled and recyclable packaging to keep things sustainable and low waste.

3. A Book

I love the idea of giving out books, but it could become quite costly if you have lots of children to buy for. That’s why shopping second-hand is great. There are so many books available in the charity shops and many of them have offers like 3 for £1. If you want to keep the cost to a minimum, you could try asking friends, neighbours or family members if they have any spare children’s books they don’t need anymore. Or you can look on Olio, which is a free sharing app, to see if anyone is donating books.

4. A “Make Your Own” Kit

It’s no secret that children love making things. You don’t need to give up fun and unique gift bag fillers in order to be more environmentally friendly. These ‘make your own kits’ from Cotton Twist tick all of the boxes. My favourite ones are the Make Your Own Dinosaur * and the Make Your Own Worry Dolls *. These kits are made with sustainable materials, so there’s not a bit of plastic in sight! They are great kits for children who like to get creative and imaginative while teaching them about the importance of sustainability. Suitable for children ages 3 and above.

5. Soy Wax Crayons

Crayons are usually made with paraffin wax, which has a negative impact on the environment and has been linked to some health concerns. But still, children shouldn’t have to miss out on the fun of using crayons and adding colour to their drawings. These soy wax crayons * are made from soy wax and naturally dyed, which is safer and kinder to the environment. They are brightly coloured and resemble different animals, which will be a hit with most children.

6. Chocolate & Surprise Toy

Chocolate is usually a fan favourite at most parties, and it can make a great addition to your eco friendly party bags. PLAYin offer a chocolate with a surprise toy in a cardboard box * to keep it more sustainable. A mix of paper and cardboard is used for the toy which allows the children to build it themselves. Alongside this, the chocolate is free from gluten, dairy, nuts, refined sugar, soy and palm oil, making it a great choice for children with allergies or intolerances. Putting these in the party bags ensures that nobody has to miss out.

7. DIY Mini Seed Bomb Kit

Kids love making things, but they also like getting messy as well. These DIY mini seed bomb kits * (also called ‘Dino Poop’) is the perfect addition to your party bags. Each kit contains a wildflower seed mix along with instructions on how you can create 2 – 3 seed bombs. The children will love seeing the wildflowers grow and it teaches them a lot about nature, wildlife and sustainability.

Extra Tips For Your Eco Friendly Party Bags

• Use paper bags instead of plastic party bags
• Include things that you already own but no longer need (e.g. plastic toys, rubber balls, ruler, erasers etc.)
• Look in charity shops
• If you’re creative, make your own eco friendly toys or gifts
• Ask friends or family members if they have anything they no longer need
• Stick to a budget for each party bag to keep the costs down