Green Parties
Show your guests you are environmentally conscious by making your next celebration a green one. Below are a few ideas that can create a memorable green event:
VENUE
Choose an eco-friendly venue. Outdoor venues are favorable, as you don’t need added décor or flowers with nature’s beauty surrounding you. Also try to select a venue close to home. Guests will have to travel less, using less energy and fuel. The easiest choice would be your own home!
INVITATIONS
Almost all of your guests use the internet these days, even grandparents! www.evite.com is a great way to invite guests, track RSVPs, and even let guests communicate with each other. If you opt for paper invitations, find some made with recycled paper.
LIGHTING
Opt for a candlelit (palm or beeswax) dinner to conserve energy. Another option would be too have an afternoon get-together, where you are taking advantage of natural light from the sun.
CATERING
Hire a gourmet caterer who uses organic & local products. Have them prepare only what will be needed for the event. If there are leftovers, ask the caterer if the food can be donated to a local shelter, or at least composted. Another option would be to cook the food yourself. Research some local vendors, and visit farmer’s markets to find out what foods are best during the month of your event.
REUSABLE DECOR
Use eco-friendly, reusable products, such as linen napkins, dinner plates, utensils & glassware. If available, use locally grown flowers. Display your food using chafing dishes, platters & bowls instead of disposable serving pieces. Guests will be impressed by the elegance of your buffet!
RECYCLE
Get your recycling bins in order before the event, and clearly mark the containers so guests can “pitch in” with the recycling. If you hire a caterer, have them ask their staff to recycle anything possible. If you are lucky enough to live in a state like Michigan, you can even cash in on all those empty cans & bottles for 10c a piece!
PASS ON THE BALLOONS
Balloons are not biodegradable, making them a choking hazard for birds, fish, squirrels, and even kids!
Good website for links:
Sustainable Living
http://www.sustainabletable.org/�
Gift Giving/Registry
http://www.changingthepresent.org/registries
http://www.alternativegiftregistry.org/
THE FACTS
Americans spend over $2.5 billion dollars every year on wrapping paper. In lieu of a gift, ask guests to donate to their favorite charity in your name.
Green Packaging
The internet has changed the way we shop. People are spending more time buying products online and less time in the retail stores. The packaging used to ship these items usually consists of a cardboard box with foam “peanuts” that are used to cushion the product and prevent damage. These peanuts are useful because they lightweight, but strong enough protect whatever is inside. The problem is traditional peanuts are made of foam which takes a very long time to break down. The good news is that traditional foam peanuts are becoming a thing of the past. Most large retailers, like Bloomingdales, use peanuts made from pure corn and potato starch. These new kind of peanuts break down in water within 9 minutes!
So next time you’re buying online look to see if there is an option to have your purchase shipped using biodegradable packaging. Biodegradable packaging consists of recycled cardboard and biodegradable bubble wrap that decomposes into oxygen, water and food for microbes as soon as left outdoors in the elements. Boxes are composed of 70% post-consumer recycled materials so be sure to ask next time you shop.
THE FACTS
Packaging “peanuts” made from pure corn and potato starch break down in water within 9 minutes.
Pack Light and Be Green
Today we’re of the mind set that there’s only one way to pack, and that’s its better to bring it than not and wish you did. The problem is not only are airlines starting to charge for extra and overweight bags, but that extra weight wastes fuel and emits tons of extra CO2 into our atmosphere. Packing light saves time, saves you money (extra baggage fees), and helps the environment (less luggage means less fuel used to carry it). So next time you travel, remember to pack light. If you don’t need it, don’t bring it. You’ll help the environment and save yourself some money at the same time.
THE FACTS
Airlines are starting to charge for overweight and extra bags, so pack light and save money while saving the environment.
Outdoor Solar Lights
Outdoor solar lighting systems use solar cells, which convert sunlight into electricity. The electricity is stored in batteries for use at night. Solar lights are more functional than they used to be just a few years ago. At that time, they were available only in limited shapes, and it wasn’t easy to find good quality products. Solar products were rare and quite expensive. Today you can find them at almost any garden shop or supermarket. Solar powered lights are available in numerous designs for home use as well as professional landscapers’ use. They can enhance the look of your garden at night, provide lighting for parking, light airports runways, flag poles or even street signs.
The best thing about outdoor solar lights is they save you money and help the environment at the same time. Instead of installing expensive electric lights on your home, use solar lights to light your home and garden. You’ll save money doing it, and feel good about helping reduce CO2 emissions.
THE FACTS
Outdoor solar lights are easy to install and virtually maintenance free. Best of all, they provide free electricity.