You can have a fun, festive party while meeting your low waste goals. Consider these ideas:
- Send invitations online via a service such as Punchbowl or Evite.
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For decorations, instead of balloons, use paper streamers, ribbon dancers or pinwheels (without sparkles, so they can be recycled). Reusable cloth bunting and banners are good options. Plants can decorate tables, and outside you can use flags and lanterns. Bubbles are a great alternative for children’s parties, since kids can get into the act!
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When it comes to party entertainment, hire face painters instead of balloon animal artists.
- If you’re not hosting at home, in the warmer months, host a Birthday at the park with minimal decorations or in the colder months select an indoor space that’s already set up for parties and needs no additional decorations. Many great local play spaces such as Funtopia or a trampoline park can result in a memorable day.
- Don’t forget to use reusable napkins, plates and cutlery!
- Skip party favors or hand out something that could be consumed and not generate any waste; for example, bath bombs or seed paper.
- For the Birthday kid, give gifts of experiences rather than “stuff”. Some examples include a local ice cream shop gift certificate (Graeter’s or Homer’s), a day at a Children’s Museum (Shedd Aquarium or Kohl’s), pottery painting, or bowling.
A Word about Balloons
As festive as balloons are, they are harmful to the environment and even to human health. Even if they claim to be biodegradable, balloons can take years to break down after they pop and can leach harmful chemicals used in their manufacturing processes. Balloons are very harmful to wildlife if released, because after they deflate, they look like food to many animals.
You can’t recycle or compost balloons, so they must be thrown in the trash. So “pop” the balloon idea and use the money for other more sustainable items to make your party memorable!
