Everyone loves a party, but whether it’s a small gathering or huge gala, celebrations of all sizes can create an inordinate amount of waste. Before you plan your next event, think before you buy, before you wrap, before you drink and before your discard. Green Irene, a national network of trained eco-consultants for homes and small businesses, offers the following easy tips to make your party a little easier on the Earth and on your budget.
First things first
The first step to any party is inviting guests. As an alternative to traditional paper invitations, consider creating festive invitations via free Web services like Evite. Templates are readily available and customizable for virtually every occasion. Another option is to send an email, a text message, or send a message through Facebook.
Don’t forget to tell your guests that they are attending an eco-friendly party. Most people will be happy to take part in a green event. And if you’re looking for an excuse to host a party, take it a step further and have a party with an environmental theme. You could throw an organic/local wine and cheese party to show support for locally-produced organic food and drinks. Or you can have your guests bring a gently-used home accent, book, movie, or fashion accessories to exchange — that way they come with something they don’t want and leave with something they will use!
When you contact your guests, promote green transportation options (walking, carpooling, public transit) to minimize energy consumption and reduce air pollution. Using a Web-based invitation service like Evite makes it easy for guests to locate potential carpools. Friends and family members who imbibe a few too many adult beverages will be thankful that you did.
If gifts are a customary part of the occasion, suggest that in lieu of traditional gifts people bring an item for the local food pantry, homeless shelter, children’s hospital or other specific charity. Recycle or reuse gift wrap, gift bags, boxes and ribbons whenever possible.
Shopping for the big event
Be mindful of the Earth when you are planning your event. Walk or take public transit to the store, or combine your car trip with other errands. When you shop, bring your own canvas bags to reduce waste, and be smart about what you put in your cart. You can avoid using wasteful disposable tableware and add style by borrowing or renting cloth napkins, dishes and glassware. While dinnerware is much more civilized, sometimes the event calls for paper plates. If this is the case, consider an eco-friendly option made from a biodegradable or compostable material such as corn or sugar cane fiber (called bagasse). Unwaxed paper plates and cups are compostable, too, but most importantly, steer clear of Styrofoam which is made from non-renewable hydrocarbons and does not break down in a landfill.
When it comes to food and beverages, try to purchase organic or local food, wine or beer. Not only will you be supporting your local economy, but when you buy local, you contribute little to energy spent transporting food and drink from the manufacturer. To reduce food waste, try to purchase and make only as much as you need. If you’re concerned about under-estimating, buy a few “just in case” items that can be prepared quickly if you find you’re running low on food—but that also will keep or freeze for later use if not needed during the party.
Setting the scene
Every party calls for at least a basic pre-party cleaning. Use non-toxic, eco-friendly cleaners to get your place sparkling clean and smelling fresh. Look for cleaners that contain essential oils and plant- and vegetable-based ingredients.
To spruce up your home for the event, decorate with plants. They’re not just beautiful — they increase the amount of available oxygen and filter the air of the various pollutants. To further decorate your party space, create ambiance with non-toxic soy or beeswax candles. Conventional paraffin candles are petroleum-based, and the emissions released through burning petroleum-based candles or artificially scented candles are comparable to the emissions released when a diesel engine is started. That’s no way to treat your guests!
It’s party time
As guests begin to arrive, have an array of drinks ready to welcome them. Offer the organic wines and beers you purchased, and serve water and juice in pretty pitchers to avoid the expense and waste of single-serve bottles. If you’re serving carbonated beverages, avoid disposable bottles and cans by investing in a sparkling water-maker operated by a carbonator canister. It eliminates thousands of one-use containers and lets you offer just about every flavor of soda. It’s a great conversation starter and a visible commitment to your efforts to live more sustainably.
Develop a simple system to differentiate your guests’ cups to avoid the inevitable mix-ups and ensuing waste of drinks and cups. This stops the spread of germs, too. Using paper or plastic cups? Consider creative ways to mark the cups with lively or sophisticated stickers, a calligraphy pen or crayons — whatever fits the occasion.
During a party, recycling often gets overlooked. Encourage your guests to recycle by making bins easily accessible for bottles and cans. As with the cups, you can be creative with the type of bins you use and the way you mark them. Be sure to put out a lined or washable bin for food waste and the compostable dishware that your guests used. Parties can generate a large amount of food waste and you can keep the volume out of your regular garbage can by separating the food waste and placing it in the gray yard waste bin for curbside collection. Lastly, if you do have food leftover, have reusable containers ready so you can send some home with a friend or your family can enjoy it after the event is over. The steps outlined above will help reduce the carbon footprint of your festivities without sacrificing any of the fun.
Green Irene Eco-Consultant, Judi Radloff, helps Kirkland and other Eastside residents implement proven green solutions in their homes and starts them on the path to a healthier, safer and more sustainable lifestyle. Contact Judi Radloff at judi.eastside@greenirene.com, or visit www.greenirene.com/eastsidejudi for more information.
