Who doesn’t love a party? A gathering of friends or family coming together to celebrate a birthday, a baby shower, an engagement, a memorial… whatever the reason for your celebration there are certain party supplies that come to mind. Paper plates, plastic cutlery and balloons being the big ones. But these are not particularly eco-friendly. Fortunately you can have eco-friendly celebrations which don’t include lots of single use or plastic party decorations.
What to Avoid
There are certain things that should be avoided at any eco-friendly get together…
- Balloons
- Single use anything (paper plates, throwaway decorations etc)
- Glitter
- Shiny paper / decorations
- Fireworks
Why you should avoid balloons
Balloons should be a no-no for any party, even ones which claim to be biodegradable. They can still take up to 4 years to biodegrade by which time they could have caused serious harm to any number of animals.
| Both marine and terrestrial animals frequently mistake deflated balloons as food. Sea turtles are particularly vulnerable, as balloons are easily confused for their jellyfish prey. Once ingested, balloons can cause stomach or intestinal blockages, eventually leading to starvation. The strings or ribbons attached to balloons can be just as dangerous. Birds become entangled, and sea turtles, seals and dolphins have flippers and fins snared — their movement is restricted and their ability to feed compromised. These entanglements can cause infections, amputations, starvation, drowning and death. – Earth 911 |
But if you don’t have balloons what can you use instead? There are heaps of alternatives and I don’t mean a “Happy Birthday” banner you can buy from you local party supplies shop.
Eco-Friendly Alternatives to Balloons
Why you should avoid single use items
Do I really need to explain this one? Anything you buy that only has a one time use is a waste of money and resources and your item will more than likely end up in landfill.
Don’t use paper plates and plastic cutlery
Just use normal day to day crockery and cutlery that can be washed and re-used. If you’re inviting lots of people over and don’t think you’ll have enough plates think outside the box a little. Some places will let you hire drinking glasses and plates for a party, or you could serve food in reusable, washable serviettes. Alternatively you could ask everyone to bring a plate, a glass and a chair along with them!
Never buy a fancy dress costume unless you know you’ll wear it again and again
Why not get creative and use things you have around the house to make your outfit or go to a fancy dress hire shop?
Why you should avoid glitter
Apart from the fact that glitter gets everywhere and you’ll find it for years and years, glitter is basically just micro-plastics. And these tiny particles end up in the waterways as fish food. It is possible to find eco-friendly glitter if you really think you can’t live without it.
Why you should avoid shiny paper / decorations
It’s extremely unlikely that shiny wrapping paper or banners are recyclable. They are also extremely unlikely to be biodegradable or compostable either. Go for natural colours / materials for the least impact on the environment.
Why you should avoid fireworks
- They’re noisy and can cause distress to pets, wildlife and the elderly
- They have plastic in them and unless you’re prepared to scour the ground for all the waste you fired into the sky you shouldn’t use them.
- They’re a one time use item which gives you just a few minutes of oohing and aahing – spend your money on something else.
Eco-Friendly Celebrations – Party Ideas
When we’re talking about being eco-friendly what often comes up is making stuff yourself. And this is a prime example of where making it yourself is actually a lot of fun, especially if you have kids. Making the party decorations yourself also means you can tailor them and you’re more likely to keep them stored away for your next party, rather than just chucking it all in the bin when everyone has gone home.
Here are some great ideas for decorations to make for all your eco-friendly celebrations.
Homemade Fabric Bunting
I feel like bunting isn’t used as much as it used to be, unless you’re having a street party to celebrate a Royal wedding, but bunting can look fantastic, especially if you make it yourself. You can make bunting out of any old material you no longer use. A dated pair of flowery curtains that you’d never want hanging in your house could be perfect to be used as bunting for example.
The Easiest Way To Make Fabric Bunting
Paper Pinwheels
The best thing about a paper pinwheel is the lack of plastic, the second best thing is that you’re probably not spending a huge amount as you might have some of the materials at home anyway.
How To Make Homemade Paper Pinwheels
Paper Table Runners
A really easy way to decorate your table is to use wrapping paper as a table runner. For example at Christmas I use one long strip of a roll of festive wrapping paper down the length of the table. Find a nice roll of wrapping paper (glitter free, not shiny and without a plastic sheath!) that matches the theme of your party for a wallet and eco-friendly table decoration.
My 4 Rules of Eco-Friendliness in order…
- Don’t buy something new (especially if it’s for a one-off occasion)
- Make your own
- Buy second-hand
- Buy new from an ethical company – fair-trade, eco-friendly natural materials, re-usable / multi-use…
Always remember that the most eco-friendly version of something is to not buy something! The second best is to make it yourself from items you already own. The third option is to buy it from a second hand shop. If none of that is possible make sure that you buy something made from natural materials from an ethically minded shop.
Here are links to specific celebrations / occasions / get togethers…
- Valentines Day
- Easter
- Wedding
- Gender Reveal Parties
- Baby Shower
- Childrens Party
- Bonfire Night
- Halloween
- Christmas
- Funeral
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