Parties are a great way to interact with the people around you. Sometimes, a party is a gettogether to celebrate a special event, such as a wedding or baby shower. Other times, it’s a required social event for business. Whatever the reasoning behind needing to host a party, it’s important to realize the environmental impact of a large scale event. When planning to host a party, while there are some things you cannot avoid, you should do your best to make sure your party has as little of an impact as possible. If you’re unsure of where to begin, here are some tips for hosting an eco-friendly party.
Use Green Party Favors
Whether you’re hosting a baby shower, a birthday, or even a wedding, favors are a party staple that all guests enjoy. However, it’s important to put thought into favors when choosing them. You don’t want to pick a favor that is useless nor do you want to pick one that is bad for the environment. You don’t have to give up party favors to go green, thankfully. Instead of picking something that is either mostly made of plastic or can only be used once, consider choosing a favor such as a small succulent or a jar of honey. The plant will improve air quality and make a great decoration, and the jar of honey can be eaten and the glass jar reused or recycled.
Skip the Single-Use Plastics
Single uses plastics are detrimental to the environment, yet they often show up at parties. Just think of all the single-use plastic that you normally see - disposable cups and silverware, confetti, and even things like packaging. When it comes to wrapping presents, between the tape and the wrapping paper, you’re also producing a lot of unnecessary trash that pollutes the planet. Try switching to green options and using reusable things such as normal cups and silverware and experimenting with all-natural gift wrapping such as handkerchiefs and newspapers.
Purchase Decor that You Can Reuse
Of the three R’s of environmentalism - reduce, reuse, and recycle - reuse is one of the most important aspects when it comes to planning a party. Flimsy decorations or things that can only be used once will only get thrown away and end up in landfills where they pollute the world. Instead of buying a themed decoraiton, buy something that you can either store and use for another event or
Be Conscious About Food Waste
People love food, especially in social situations. When planning a party, though, you need to plan the menu very carefully in order to prevent food waste. While you don’t want to not have enough food for your guests, you also don’t want to have so much that most get thrown away. When possible, you should also buy local. Instead of buying a vegetable plate from the grocery store, for instance, try shopping around your local farmer’s market for the food you want.
