Best Eco Party Bag Fillers That Aren’t Junk

In this post, I have listed all the best eco-party bag fillers you can think of that are both fun and sustainable because no one wants to bring home a bag full of plastic tat. 

9 coloured paper party bags with a banner that reads Eco-friendly party bag ideas

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If you’re reading this as a parent, you probably want to teach your children the importance of being eco-friendly and how to take care of the planet. One way you can do this is by choosing eco-friendly party favours for your kids’ birthday parties. Not only is it better for the environment, but it can also be a fun and creative way to teach your kids about sustainability.

Many people know the negative impacts single use plastic has on the planet, thank goodness! This means no more plastic party bags & fillers. And to be honest, I hate receiving that stuff as it only ends up in the bin within an hour of the kids getting home.

These great ideas are for every type of party and children of all ages.

Best Sustainable Party Bag Ideas for Kids

This Post is About the Best Eco Party Bag Fillers That Aren’t Junk

eco friendly party bag fillers

Alternative gift ideas (no bag needed!)

Books

This is probably my number 1 plastic-free party bag alternative!

Most mums, including myself, love books. I love that my kids enjoy reading and if they were sent home from a birthday with some cake and a new book I would be a happy lady.

The beauty of the internet is that you can order books in bulk and then give one to each child at the party. Plus, no actual ‘party bag’ is needed. Bonus!

alternative party bag idea, wheres wally books

Here are some examples of guaranteed crowd-pleasers:

Where’s Wally Amazing Adventures and Activities (8 Books)

Where’s Wally book set collection (6 large picture books)

Mr. Men My Complete Collection Box Set (48 books)

Horrible Science Collection (20 Books)

Diary of a Wimpy Kid (12 Books)

Ultimate Football Heroes (10 Books)

Pre-filled Sweet Cones

Make your own pre-filled sweet cones instead of buying them. Who doesn’t love sweets and they look so pretty too!

Craft Activity & Cake

If you are having a party where you can incorporate a craft activity, this is a great addition to the party and a genius idea for the take-home gift!

For girls, you could make homemade bath bombs or jewellery. 

For boys, customise your own football or air-dry salt dough creations.

This is a great party activity and makes the perfect take-home gift (with a side of birthday cake obviously).

personalised bracelet for kids, etsy

Image credit: 108JUZUBEADS on Etsy

Personalised Gifts

Personalised gifts have the wow factor when it comes to plastic-free party bag gifts. However, these can be given on their own with a side of the birthday cake too.

Depending on how much money you want to spend per head. These personalised gifts range from around Β£4-Β£12.

This gorgeous bracelet from a small business on Etsy is the perfect example.

Make Your Own Kits

These Kits can be bought from websites like Etsy and Not on The High Street. They range from around Β£3-5 and are a great activity that children love!

Here are some examples I have picked out:

Make Your Own Unicorn Bracelet Kit

DIY Astronaut Peg Doll

Make Your Own Superhero Mask Kit

DIY Your Own Rainbow Bracelet

Eco-Friendly Party Bag Fillers (Bag needed)

Choosing a bag

paper party bags

If you want to choose a couple of small eco gifts, you’re going to need a bag to put them in. Instead of the traditional party bags (small plastic bags), choose one of these eco alternatives:

Paper bags

Natural cotton bags instead of plastic

Provide each guest with a reusable party box instead of disposable bags

Reuse old gift bags

Encourage guests to bring their own bag (reusable) to collect party favours

Decorate your own bags 

To make the bags a bit more fun, you could add stickers or get your children to decorate each bag themselves using crayons or coloured pencils.

Eco Party Bag Filler Ideas

All party favours should be made from safe, non-toxic materials and be sure to choose toys made from sustainable materials like wood or bamboo.

Seed Bombs

Seed bombs are small balls of soil and seeds that can be thrown into the garden to grow plants. A fun and eco-friendly way to encourage gardening.

Seed Packets

Choose a variety of flower or vegetable seeds for kids to plant at home.

Sunflower Seeds

Encourage kids to plant their own sunflowers and watch them grow.

sunflower seeds

Cookie Cutters

Cookie cutters are a practical and reusable party favour for baking enthusiasts.

Soft Toys

Choose plush toys made from natural or recycled materials.

Cress Heads

Kids can grow their own cress heads at home using biodegradable pots.

cress head

Water Bottles

Help reduce single-use plastic by gifting reusable water bottles.

Glass Jars

Decorate and reuse glass jars for storing small treasures or homemade treats.

Bouncy Balls

Choose bouncy balls made from non-toxic materials.

Biodegradable Balloons

Decorate the party with eco-friendly & biodegradable balloons that won’t harm the environment.

Party Games

Include small, sustainable games like wooden puzzles or mini board games. This mini wooden noughts and crosses is adorable!

Magic Wands

Craft magic wands using natural materials like twigs or recycled paper.

Wooden Toys

Small wooden toys that are made from sustainably sourced wood are a fun and eco-friendly gift for children.

When my son was 1 we received a wooden block with his initial on which was such a special gift that slotted in with his other wooden blocks. See here for a gorgeous example.

Handmade soaps & Bath bombs

Craft or buy handmade natural soaps or bath bombs, perfect for pamper parties.

bath bombs for kids

Plantable Pencils

Plantable pencils have a seed capsule on the end. When the pencil is too short to use, you can plant the capsule and your kids can watch their plant grow. How impressive is that!? I hadn’t even heard of these until my son received one in a party bag recently.

Seasonal Snacks

Depending on when your party is, seasonal treats are always a winner. For example, if your child was born in March/April a small Easter egg per child will always be a hit. These are always on offer in the local supermarket.

Alternatively around Christmas time, a small Christmas-themed chocolate will be sure to make the little ones super happy!

Natural snacks

Organic snacks are a great eco-friendly party bag filler for kids. You can choose from several options, including fresh fruit, fruit snacks, homemade granola bars, and popcorn. These options are also healthier than traditional snacks and come in minimal packaging.

Slice of Cake

Offer homemade or locally sourced cake slices instead of individually wrapped treats.

birthday cake for a party bag

Stickers

Use different cute animal/marine animal stickers to raise awareness about endangered species.

Beeswax Crayons

These are a great alternative to traditional crayons. They are non-toxic and are made sustainably from natural ingredients. Check out this great example from Amazon below.

Non-toxic beeswax crayons

Eco-Friendly Stationary

Give your guests eco-friendly stationery that is made from recycled or sustainable materials. You can choose notebooks, pens, or pencils that are eco-friendly. If your kids are anything like mine, you can’t go wrong with some stationary they can add to their pencil cases for school.

Eco Pens (25 pack)

Eco-friendly Notepads (2 Pack)

Little Gardener Gifts

Inspire kids to garden with child-sized gardening tools or seed packets.

Mini Potted Plants

Give your little guests mini potted plants that they can take home and grow. This is such a great eco-party bag filler/gift that can be homemade too.

I saw the most insane idea the other day on Instagram. I’ll include it here so you can see what I’m talking about.

eco friendly plant pots

Homemade Playdough

Homemade playdough is a fun and sustainable party bag filler for kids. You can make it with natural ingredients, such as flour, salt, and water, and add natural food colouring for colour. You could also incorporate this into a craft activity for the party. Kids love playing with it, and you can feel good about reducing waste.

Check out this homemade Play-Doh recipe here.

Eco-party bag fillers are a great way to teach kids about sustainability while still having fun. From books and homemade Play-Doh to recycled crayons and DIY activities, there are many eco-friendly options to choose from.

By choosing eco-friendly party bag fillers, you are helping to reduce waste and teach your kids about the importance of taking care of the environment. I hope you have enjoyed this post and are now inspired to create your own eco-friendly party bags for your kids.

This Post is About the Best Eco Party Bag Fillers That Aren’t Junk

Related posts:

50+ Eco-friendly Easter Egg Fillers your Kids will Love

Easy Salt Dough Recipe for Kid’s (Crafts & Ornaments)

125 simple tips for a more sustainable lifestyle

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