Parents swap plastic toys for compost kits in eco-conscious party bags
Climate concerns mean they are ditching traditional goodie bags that have been the staple of children's parties for years, turning to plastic-free alternatives such as books, bird feeders, seed kits and candles.
One party bag includes a pine cone, bird-friendly peanut glue, a compostable bag and instructions to build a bird feeder.
Another features a garden activity book, sustainable information card and a cornflower seed bomb. Others contain compost, 'save our planet' stickers and beeswax candles.
Advocates of the party bags say they are important to reduce plastic, but critics have accused parents being 'miserablists'.
Christopher Snowdon, an author and head of lifestyle and economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs, asked where children's opinions came in regarding the decline in traditional party gifts.
He said: 'Has anyone asked the kids if they are happy getting a handmade present or no present at all from their friends? This is miserablism masquerading as prudence.
'Young children do not require expensive gifts on their birthdays. Most of them would be happy with a packet of sweets. What they don't want is parents conspiring behind their backs to deprive them of a bit of fun.'
In 2012, McDonald's scrapped plastic Happy Meal toys to try and reduce their environmental impact.
However, it said last month that it wanted to reintroduce the toys to create 'that familiar feeling of excitement when kids open the box'.
A non-traditional approach to party bags has also been championed by the Duchess of Sussex, who revealed in With Love, Meghan, her Netflix series, that she fills her children's party bags with gardening tools, seeds, basil and sugar snap peas.
She faced criticism from parents on Mumsnet, who claimed she 'clearly doesn't know what kids like at all'.
However, retail figures show the Duchess's approach is on the rise.
The Curious Caterpillar Partyware company reported that eco-friendly products, such as plastic-free party bags and wooden or paper toys, had been a key driver of sales and said 50 per cent of its party bag sales was coming from eco-friendly options, such as cotton or paper bags.
High street chains such as John Lewis are also seeing a rise in party bag sales, but only recyclable paper ones, with 75 per cent more sold this May than last year.
The shift comes as a survey by the Kids Party Pact showed parents were growing increasingly concerned over the environmental impact of party bags, with over 75 per cent worried about excessive plastic toys.
Parents are beginning to embrace different approaches, with 22 per cent saying they already included gift guidelines on party invitations.
Alongside eco-friendly ideas, parents are opting for second-hand gifts, books or requesting no gifts at all.
Elaine Halligan, a parenting coach, author and speaker, said: 'Thank goodness the days of party bags filled with plastic fantastic, and sugary sweeties complete with E-numbers are a thing of the past. The reality is party bags rarely illicit a huge sense of gratitude from children.'
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