Shades of Green

I always enjoy entertaining. The thrill of opening our home to friends and family, seeing those that we have been out of touch with for so long, and talking long into the evening. It’s all worth the planning, cleaning, and shopping, to prepare for the event.

What I don’t enjoy so much is the scene in our home after the party. Trash cans overflowing, empty water bottles everywhere, wasted food and crumpled decorations. It all seems like such a waste. Isn’t there a way to throw a great party and still be green?

In considering this challenge, I found the following five tips to be extremely helpful in being conscious of your guests and the environment when planning your next big party.

1. Stay away from bottled water and canned beverages.
When planning a party, it is easy to grab some bottled water and soda, throw it in a cooler with some ice, and be done. Although this approach saves time, it can be costly and quickly creates unnecessary waste. Take this opportunity as your personal challenge to introduce a fun, new drink. Get some 1-5 gallon jugs, and fill them with tropical punch and fresh fruit. Mix up a big batch of sangria for the adults and some pink lemonade for the kids. Stack reusable plastic cups next to the coolers, and allow your guests to enjoy a tasty, different treat.

2. Think reusable or biodegradable.
Polystyrene, commonly referred to as Styrofoam, is a common item at picnics and parties. Plates made with polystyrene are durable and affordable. It is true that they last a long time, which is part of the problem. When you put a polystyrene plate in the landfill, it is there for hundreds of years (if not longer). This product is also non-renewable (made from crude oil), non-compostable, and environmentally toxic (studies have shown that chemicals in polystyrene foam are carcinogenic and can leach into food or drink).

The best alternative to polystyrene is reusable serving plates, cups and utensils. Keeping a stack of thin, colorful, reusuable plastic plates and utensils in the pantry allows for entertaining larger groups of people. These items are affordable and readily available at discount stores. Prepare by emptying the dishwasher before the event, for easy cleanup. Or place decorative wash bins around the patio, and guests can drop in their plates and cups when done.

If reusable tableware is not an option, opt for products that are made with renewable resources, which will decompose easily and quickly. Examples of these readily available products include items made from corn, potatoes, and bamboo. If you want to purchase a biodegradable product, but feel guilty ordering online, Staples carries a line of environmentally friendly cups, known as Green ware. Green ware is made from corn, environmentally sustainable, is 100% compostable and sells for approximately $7.50 for a pack of 50 cups. Additional sites that offer reasonable, biodegradable dinnerware include www.worldcentric.org and www.branchhome.com.

3. Buy all fresh ingredientslocally.
Buying all of the fresh ingredients locally reduces demand for products that are trucked in, and stimulates the local economy. Throwing together a large fruit salad for the party, with items purchased at the local farmers market, is a great way to buy local, and provides a healthy, refreshing snack.

4. Utilize online invitation services to contact your guests.
There are a variety of effective online invitation services that allow you to design a trendy and entertaining invitation for your guests. Most services also allow for e-mail updates when the time or location has changed, and offer free mapping services. This is a cost effective way to spread the word about your big event, and reduces paper and printing waste associated with traditional invitations. Have some guests without e-mail? It never hurts to take a few extra moments, add a personal touch, and call and invite them. A few online sites to consider are: www.evite.com and www.americangreetings.com.

5. Give a gift that will keep on giving, in a good way.
If you want to send a little something special home with your guest, opt for a gift that benefits the environment and is a fun project for the family. Companies make seeded party favors, cut out in different shapes (dragonfly or butterfly), which can be planted (www.botanicalpaperworks.com). Other companies offer evergreen trees with a personalized label (www.arborday.org) or purchase fair trade items locally from Ten Thousand Villages at World Handcrafts in Reedley. (www.tenthousandvillages.com).

Entertaining doesn’t have to be wasteful, and by following these few simple tips, you can host a party that will entertain the guest and help preserve the environment.