By Anders Lorenzen
This Sunday, millions of children will be out and about hunting for Easter Eggs.
In the Easter period, it is estimated that over a billion Easter Eggs will be consumed.
As the table later in this article shows, the carbon footprint of Easter eggs varies significantly depending on the type of product you buy.
Breaking down the carbon costs
The key metrics that influence the carbon cost of your Easter Egg can be broken into three areas:
- The type of chocolate
- Packaging
- Production methods
Chocolate type
The darker the chocolate, the better it is for the environment. The less dark chocolate content it includes, the higher its carbon footprint, as it contains more dairy.
Packaging
This has a significant contribution.
The Easter Eggs that rely heavily on excessive use of plastic and non-recyclable materials will also have a high carbon footprint.
Production methods
Some Easter Egg producers have a high reliance on palm oil, which is known to be linked to deforestation and biodiversity loss.
The average carbon footprint of an Easter Egg
The global average carbon footprint of an Easter Egg has been calculated to be 0.9 kg Carbon dioxide equivalents (CO₂e).
This mean value has been derived from a mix of both high- and low-footprint products.
How is it calculated?
It is essential to note that this is based on a rough mean of individual egg footprints, rather than weighted by actual sales.
Disclaimer
An actual average per egg sold globally would likely be significantly higher, because most sold eggs are from high-footprint mainstream brands.
Guidelines for consumers
For busy parents, selecting the most climate and environmentally friendly Easter Eggs while picking options that their children like can be a bit of a jungle.
But following these key markers is a good place to start:
Choose minimal packaging
Opt for Easter eggs with recyclable or minimal packaging to reduce waste.
Select dark chocolate
Dark chocolate typically has a lower carbon footprint due to less dairy content.
Avoid palm oil
Selecting products without palm oil can help mitigate the impacts of deforestation.
Support sustainable brands
Look for companies that prioritise sustainability in their sourcing and production processes.
Ten Easter Eggs with a low carbon footprint
| 1 | Buttermilk Plant-Based Egg | 0.56 kg CO₂e | Lowest carbon impact |
| 2 | Kinder Surprise Easter Egg | 0.34 kg CO₂e | Uses palm oil, but is lightweight |
| 3 | Guylian Belgian Egg | 0.97 kg CO₂e | Palm oil-free, sustainably sourced |
| 4 | Cadbury Twirl Large Egg | ~0.90 kg CO₂e | Only 18.8% of the packaging |
| 5 | Original Beans Egg | ~0.85 kg CO₂e | Climate-positive chocolate brand |
| 6 | Tony’s Chocolonely Egg | ~0.87 kg CO₂e | Ethically and sustainably sourced |
| 7 | Moo Free Vegan Egg | ~0.75 kg CO₂e | Dairy-free, eco-conscious packaging |
| 8 | Green & Black’s Organic Egg | ~0.80 kg CO₂e | Ethically sourced organic ingredients |
| 9 | Divine Chocolate Egg | ~0.82 kg CO₂e | Fairtrade, low-packaging format |
| 10 | Hotel Chocolat Eco Egg | ~0.89 kg CO₂e | Uses recyclable, minimal packaging |
Ten Easter Eggs with a high carbon footprint
| 1 | Nestlé Easter Egg | 1.38 kg CO₂e | Highest overall footprint (uSwitch) |
| 2 | Cadbury Easter Egg (General) | 1.18 kg CO₂e | High packaging content and dairy usage |
| 3 | Thorntons Classic Large Egg | ~1.10 kg CO₂e | 36.4% packaging by weight |
| 4 | Lindt Lindor Egg w/ Truffles | ~1.05 kg CO₂e | 28.1% packaging |
| 5 | Mars Egg & Chocolate Bar | ~1.03 kg CO₂e | 25.5% packaging |
| 6 | Cadbury Crème Giant Egg | ~1.02 kg CO₂e | 25.1% packaging |
| 7 | Cadbury Mini Eggs XL | ~1.00 kg CO₂e | 24.2% packaging |
| 8 | Cadbury Dairy Milk XL Egg | ~0.98 kg CO₂e | 23.0% packaging |
| 9 | Galaxy Indulgent Collection Egg | ~0.95 kg CO₂e | 22.5% packaging |
| 10 | Maltesers Large Teasers Egg | ~0.93 kg CO₂e | 21.6% packaging |
2025 estimated Easter Egg sales and carbon footprints
In 2025, it is estimated that a staggering 1.2 billion Easter Eggs will be sold.
With the estimated average carbon footprint per egg being 0.9 kg CO₂e, approximately 1.08 million tonnes of CO₂e will be emitted.
Comparative analyses
To put all this into context, 0.9 kg CO₂e – the estimated average carbon footprint of one Easter Egg is equivalent to driving 3.7 km in a typical petrol car.
And 1.08 million tonnes of CO₂e, the carbon footprint of the 1.2 billion Easter Eggs estimated to be purchased this year, is equivalent to over 233,000 typical petrol cars driven for a whole year.
Anders Lorenzen is the founding Editor of A greener life, a greener world.
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