Happy Birthday zero waste greetings card
Birthdays are simple – the day we are born. But this has created a plastic-fuelled industry of tat, for mass industry to make more profits, and the planet to suffer.
This happy birthday lovely human is a nice card to give to someone on their special day. Save it to give to a brilliant friend, parent or colleague who deserves a little appreciation this year. The bold typography, means this message will not be missed!
Only send plantable cards to pet-free homes, as many contain toxic herbs and wildflowers. Also most companies use non-native seeds, which are not good for local birds and wildlife.
Use with zero waste gift wrap. Also read up on keeping pets safe at Christmas (many plants including holly, mistletoe and poinsetta are unsafe).
Nobody’s saying not to give a nice gift on a birthday – this can be an experience (a day out at an art gallery or museum, a nice meal out or a trip to the cinema). But try to resist the huge consumerist binge mindset, of spending hundreds of pounds on gifts, just because someone is a year older!
Zero waste ideas for someone’s birthday
You don’t need to ‘buy anything’, as most people would likely just prefer a nice forest walk or ‘experience’, rather than a physical gift. Here are a few ideas:
- Visit a local art gallery together (many are free)
- Take a nice nature walk together, time to just be.
- Visit a local botanical garden or ‘open garden’.
- A luxury spa day at a local beauty salon
- Vegan afternoon tea at a local hotel
- Watch a film at an independent cinema
- Take a trip to the local theatre or comedy venue.
Avoid balloons at children’s parties
These have become very popular of late, with companies like McDonald’s making a fortune for holding themed parties so children can eat junk food and get gifts they don’t really want or need.
Many birthday parties use balloons, which cause havoc for wildlife (including endangered sea turtles, as most balloons end up in the sea, where they look like jellyfish – a sea turtle’s favourite food). There are plenty of alternatives to party balloons, to avoid balloon releases.
