For today’s contribution to the What You Sow Party I asked Wendy of Moral Fibres to suggest some ideas for ensuring your own bash is kind to the environment.
Moral Fibres is all about Sustainable living that’s hip not hippie and is the first place you should head to if you’re making an effort to reduce your impact on the environment with ideas on wasting less food and energy and ideas on where to shop ethically. Add it to your blog reader today.
Here are Wendy’s tips for An Eco-Friendly Party:
It’s What You Sow’s first birthday, and what a great excuse for a party! If
you’re planning a party then here are some tips for a great event that’s easy on the planet. You don’t have to use all the tips - even just using one or two will help you to have a more environmentally friendly party.
Invites
Go paperless! Even if you don’t have any graphic design skills, it really
couldn’t be easier to design an invite. Find some images online,
appropriate to the theme of your party, and use a free editing software (I like Picmonkey) to add text and any other images and effects you want. Email your finished creation round your friends, or create a private event on Facebook and invite people that way.
If you really don’t have any graphic skills at all then you can use an online invite service, such as Paperless Post, which comes at a small price, but have some stylish designs.
Venue
Consider your venue choice. Is it easy for people to get there on public transport?
If not, can you encourage your friends to carshare? If you create a
private event on Facebook then it can be easy to organize and co-ordinate carsharing.
Crockery and Cutlery
Avoid using plastic disposable plates, glasses and cutlery at all costs. If you don’t have enough plates, glasses and cutlery to go round, then ask friends to bring some along or buy some from charity shops.
Alternatively paper plates and cups (Papermash have a good
stylish selection) and wooden cutlery make good eco-friendly alternatives. These can easily be composted afterwards. If you’re not into the idea of paper cups then there’s currently
an ongoing trend of using jars as glasses - serve with some biodegradable paper straws rather than plastic ones.
Another option is to hire crockery, cutlery and glasswear from a local company. The bonus of this is that most companies wash your dirty dishes for you too!
Image Credit: Project Wedding
Decorations
Although synonymous with parties, balloons should be avoided. And although they look pretty, fresh flowers can also have a massive carbon footprint (from being shipped in planes halfway across the world, or being forced under heat in the UK) so instead decorate with plants.
Alternatively, if you have the time then make your own recycled decorations. You can make candle holders from tin cans, some cute paper lanterns, or your own recyclable pom poms or bunting.
These paper roses would look great if you made about 20 or so and strung them up as streamers or garlands. Or if you’re feeling less crafty just place some beeswax or soya candles in some old glass jars for a rustic look.
Wrapping Paper
Wrapping paper is such a waste as it just gets put in the bin, and some varieties, particularly the metallic types, can’t be recycled. A great and eye-catching alternative is the Japanese art of Furoshiki - wrapping
gifts in fabric that can be reused.
A pretty silk scarf picked up cheaply at a charity shop would be ideal, or even a nice tea towel. The Japanese Ministry for the Environment have a useful guide on how to wrap different objects in a variety of ways.
Image credit: Apartment Therapy
Food & Drink
It’s tempting when you’re organising a party to go and stock up at the supermarket on a load of pre-made party food. Why not serve food made with local and seasonal ingredients if you can. Visit your local market or greengrocers (if you have one) to see what they’ve got and get cooking. Quiche made from local hens eggs and veggies is one good and easy option, however If you’re stuck for ideas the Eat
Seasonably website is highly recommended.
Drinks
Drinks are one area where it’s hard to make your own - especially at short notice. You can make your own elderflower, elderberry or rhubarb wine easily in the right season, but these things take time to mature. Unless you’re planning a party at least a year in advance you’ll probably buy your beverages from local shops. In this case use local shops/wine merchants rather than supermarkets, and select wine with natural
corks rather than screwtops. And remember to recycle your bottles, cans and cartons afterwards!
One last very very important point: enjoy your celebrations! I always find
that as a host I’m always running around making sure everyone is having a good
time - so make sure you relax and enjoy yourself!
