We celebrate several special occasions throughout the calendar year. These include birthdays and holidays of all sorts. Learn ways that you and your family can celebrate these special days in a more eco-friendly fashion.
“Going green” takes a bit of creativity. We have relied on modern fixes for so long that we forget that a lot of things we need, we can make on our own. That doesn’t mean that modern conventions are bad. Pick and choose which modern items you will use based on whether it is good for the environment or not. With that said, here are some suggestions for celebrating the “green” way.
Make your decorations. Use construction paper to make shapes, confetti and streamers. Store the decorations for future uses.
Shred regular paper to make stuffing for gift baskets and bags. Instead of filling an Easter basket with plastic grass, use green construction paper. In Christmas gifts, instead of tissue paper, use shredded paper and recycle it.
Buy from countries that sell eco-friendly products. There are many countries that participate in fair trade. They create ornaments and gifts created from natural products. The price is cheaper and you would be helping a craftsman in need as well as the Earth.
Decorate gift boxes instead of using wrapping paper. Kids can use crayons and markers to beautify their gifts. The wrapping paper just gets thrown away anyway. If you don’t have any drawing skills, wrap presents in colored butcher’s paper. It can be recycled when you are finished with it.
Give a gift that keeps on giving. Some folks opt to make a donation in the name of another to a favored charity. If you know the favorite charity of the person receiving the gift, choose that one. Another gift idea is to have a star named after someone.
Rent tables, chairs and meal utensils for big parties. You might not have enough silverware or plates for fifty people, but renting them is a better choice than going with disposable ware. You decrease your waste and everyone still has a good time.
Give people reusable containers for leftovers. These containers are cheap to buy and each guest can continue to use them in their own home. It’s better than using two disposable plates.
Go potluck. Each person brings a dish and they also take their dish back home. You have less to clean up and wash after the celebration.
Give eco-friendly party favors. Instead of birthday hats, give kids a wooden toy they can play with over and over. If you do the party hat thing, use real hats instead of paper ones. You can even make it a fun part of the party and let them bring their own crazy hat. Kids and adults alike will have fun with all the different headwear people can come up with.
Who says that having fun can’t also be environmentally friendly? Use these suggestions for your next celebratory gathering.
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