Tips for
Throwing a Green Party
From:
Christine Chan
Ever wonder how to throw an
eco-friendly intimate soiree or holiday party without sacrificing
style or breaking your budget? It’s easier than you
might think! Here are a few tips to get you started:
1. Paperless invites
With most of our friends, family, and co-workers connected online
these days, evites are an attractive and convenient alternative to
paper invites. You’ll save trees as well as money on postage.
Online websites such as Evites or American Greetings offer fun,
customizable invites for all occasions that you can easily create
and email to your guests. And best of all, it’s free.
2. Go natural
Instead of typical paper streamers and balloons, consider
decorating with small plants. They’ll also make great parting gifts
at the end of the party. Placing soy or beeswax candles – they
won’t emit toxic, sooty fumes – around the house helps cut down on
electricity use and create
ambiance. Embrace your creative self by thinking of ways you can
decorate using items you already have around
the house. It’ll help you save money and make the planning process
all the more enjoyable.
3. Skip the plastic
While it’s easy to use disposable plates and utensils at any party,
it’s wise to consider if you can use real plates and utensils you
already have. If cleaning up afterwards is a less than desirable
option, consider enlisting a friend to help. If it’s a big party
and using real plates out of the question, try to look for utensils
and plates made of recycled materials such as Recycline or Bambu, available in many
supermarkets.
Creating and labeling simple recycling bins for paper, cans,
bottles, and compost (for food scraps)
encourages your guests to recycle. Hopefully your
eco-friendly habits will gently remind them of their own habits at
home and educate them to consider similar habits when they host
their own parties.
5. Green cleaning
While cleaning up after anyone is not the most enjoyable or sought
after task, it can be very environmentally friendly. Using
natural cleaning products such as
vinegar and lemon will keep your body happy and the environment
healthy. Also, consider cloths and dust rags instead of paper
towels.
~ Christine Chan
