When it comes to birthdays, opting for eco-friendly choices can make a big difference. Think about swapping out single-use items for sustainable alternatives or choosing experience gifts over physical ones. These small changes can have a positive impact both psychologically and environmentally, making celebrations greener and more memorable.

In our small town, my daughter’s school encourages inviting the whole class to birthday parties to foster a sense of community and togetherness. For her third birthday, we did just that—22 students plus parents joined us. The party was a bit wild with so many toddlers running around (and my daughter mostly hiding because she was overwhelmed by all the attention), but everyone was kind enough to spend their Saturday afternoon with us and brought gifts.

After the party, I was shocked by the amount of trash one toddler party could generate, mostly from wrapping paper. Then, when we got home, my daughter started opening the toys, creating more heaps of trash from the packaging. Not to mention the toys themselves—my daughter doesn’t really play with dolls, but she received several, so now they sit around collecting dust. The event left me feeling torn—joy over the generosity of our friends and family, but also guilt knowing we contributed to a growing waste problem. I was determined to do better for her next party, but how?

The Research

Each year, 5 billion pounds of returned goods end up in landfills, and 8 million tons of plastic waste is dumped into the oceans.

Researching toy waste uncovered some astonishing facts. The toy industry uses more plastic than any other industry; for every $1 million in revenues, it uses 40 tons of plastic. In 2022, the US spent over $63 billion on toys, with 90% made of plastic. This plastic contains harmful and hormone-disrupting chemicals hazardous to children. The production of toys has also been linked to sweatshops and child labor. During the holidays, 45% of gifts get returned, and while some end up back on store shelves, 5 billion pounds of returned gifts end up in landfills.

Solutions for Busy Parents

Fortunately, more eco-friendly toy options are becoming available. Many companies are offering recycling programs or making toys from sustainable or recycled materials. For instance, in 2018, Lego launched its first sustainable bricks made from plant-based plastic sourced from sugarcane and plans to phase out single-use plastic packaging by 2025. The Mattel Playback program aims to keep toys in play and out of landfills, and LeapFrog offers an electronic waste mail-back program to recycle its products.

For a more local solution, places like Toybrary in Austin offer a toy lending library. This allows kids to check out and return toys, making it an eco-friendly way to enjoy new toys. Toybrary offers different membership options, letting kids borrow clean, new toys while you save space and money.

To tackle packaging and wrapping paper waste, Terracycle offers Zero Waste Boxes. Simply fill up a box with waste, return it with the prepaid shipping label, and they take care of the rest! Instead of filling trash bags with wrapping paper and packaging, fill up a Terracycle Zero Waste Box.

Alternatives to Physical Gifts

Lots of parents are tired of all the stuff, so they’re choosing experiences instead.

The Atlantic reported on the behavioral economics of buying experiences rather than things. Research in Psychological Science shows we gain more and longer-lasting happiness from spending money on experiences. There are benefits to fewer toys too. A 2017 article in Psychology Today cited a university study suggesting kids with more toys have a reduction in quality play. Kids with fewer toys engage in more imaginative and creative play. So, skip the toys and opt for experiences instead.

Gift recipients are more appreciative of gifts they explicitly request than those they do not. That’s according to research reported in The Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. One way to avoid unwanted gifts is to use a gift registry or wish list. Over 70% of moms surveyed said they loved gift registries for kids because it takes the guesswork out of gift buying. You can create a wish list full of gift ideas, including toys and experiences! Share your wish list with your digital invite, or provide a link by text or email if someone asks for gift ideas. When you share your wish list, your guests can easily shop directly from it, making gifting a breeze for everyone.

Lessons Learned

We’re entering a much more eco-friendly time for parties and gifts.

Here’s what I learned and how I plan to make next year’s birthday party much more eco-friendly: Toy companies are getting on board with the circular economy, offering recycling programs and safer, greener products for kids. Parents are choosing eco-friendly decor and using Terracycle's Zero Waste Boxes for party waste. Smart parents and their kids are also creating wish lists and sending them with their paperless digital party invitations because kids are happier with the gifts they personally pick out, and those gifts are less likely to end up in the landfill. Finally, asking for experiences instead of things leads to more happiness because you’re creating memories, and those memories don’t end up in the garbage.

So, skip the wrapping paper, embrace eco-friendly options, and watch your parties become not only more memorable but also kinder to the planet!