Throw an Eco-Friendly Party!

Do you love the environment and entertaining, but aren't sure where the two should meet? We have some great tips to start off your next eco-friendly party on the right foot. That is, a reduced carbon footprint! These tips are perfect if you're throwing a child's birthday party, an intimate gathering of friends or anything in between!

1. Use E-vites for Your Eco-Friendly Party

One of the easiest ways to help reduce your carbon footprint, save the trees and reduce the clutter that will wind up in the trash... is to invite your guest list over the internet! If you're FB friends with your guests or their parents, a Facebook event invite is an easy way to keep track of RSVPs. If you happen to have an email list, there are tons of cute graphic invitations to send over the web. You can easily convey the theme of your gathering without the leftover rubbish or guilt about rainforests!

2. DIY Environmentally Friendly Decorations

This trick requires some creativity, but the environment will thank you in the end. Instead of buying tons of banners, streamers, confetti, and balloons that may damage the environment, look at decorating your party with items around your home. An elegant dinner party can re-use candles and settings you already own, and the mismatched look is so in! You can reuse pieces of cardboard or construction paper to make party hats and decorations for children's birthday parties. You can even double up the fun by having the kids color their own hats! Create a makeshift photo backdrop with bedsheets or linens instead of tying crepe or streamers that will just wind up in the garbage.

3. Ditch Disposable Plastic

Photo by Phyek for Aevia

This is the easiest trick to incorporate for an eco-friendly party. However, you will have to take a deep breath and remember your values before starting on cleanup! Disposable plastic silverware, plates, bowls, napkins, and cups are very convenient, we know. These items will also surely wind up taking a long time to break down in a landfill. Instead, use dishes that you already own or try eco-friendly alternatives like palm leaf plates or wooden cutlery. If you're throwing a children's party, you can cut up old towels or linens that you no longer use for napkins. We don't recommend using any fine china sets, however!

4. Don't Waste Food

Food from parties often makes its way into the trash, causing huge and unnecessary waste. With a couple environmentally-friendly tricks, you can have a delicious menu at your eco-friendly party! First off, shop your own fridge and freezer before running out to buy tons of groceries or enlisting the help of a caterer. Incorporate frozen fruits and vegetables from the back of your freezer, and create juice drinks from the contents of your own fridge. If your own food stock is a little lacking for your event, buy fresh at a farmers market. Although your dishes may take a little more prep time, it'll be worth it to know that you used as few resources as possible. Large factories and packaging plants don't always regulate their waste and sometimes release tons of emissions into the atmosphere, which means frozen items aren't always eco-friendly.

5. Make Dessert at Home

Photo by Svetlana Tofigi for Aevia

Although it's tempting to get a huge and elaborate decorated cake for your party, it's not the most eco-friendly option. You have little control over the waste or methods that a bakery will use than you do in your own kitchen. Cakes are easy to bake, and there are many supplies you can get to make decoration easier. Plus, instead of tossing scraps of cake you don't need, you can always make additional desserts...like cake pops! Cupcakes are also an easy and delicious treat to serve if you are uncomfortable with taking on an entire cake.

6. Get Rid of Goody Bags

Unless goody bags are filled with dollar bills and the latest toy from Mattel, chances are they aren't worth the environmental impact. Instead of sending tons of candy home with the kiddos, set some out on the tables. Bonus points if you snag varieties that come without wrappers! You've eliminated packaging for goody bags that will end up in the trash, and chances are you'll have some pocket money for quality entertainment at the party. Performers, bouncy houses or rental games are reusable, have no litter and receive the green stamp of approval! We hope our tips for throwing an eco-friendly party inspired some ideas for your next gathering. Have a favorite trick you don't see here? Comment with your favorite green event tip below!