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Throw a Green Birthday Party

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Throw a Green Birthday Party!

Are you tired of going to or hosting a child’s birthday party which results in rubbish bags filled with plastic and other non-biodegradable rubbish. With some small changes it is easy to create an eco-friendly fiesta!

Try using some of these ideas for your next birthday Bash.

Balloons:-choose latex over mylar. Latex is naturally derived and 100%biodegradable and will break down nearly as quickly as a leaf fallen from a tree. The latex is harvested from rubber trees without harming the tree. This has the added benefit of supporting the tropical rainforest trees.

Cakes:- I know we aren’t all domestic goddesses but make rather than buy a birthday cake. You could use organic ingredients and you will cut down on food miles.

Candles:- Burn beeswax in place of conventional candles. Beeswax is natural and renewable. It actually improves air quality as they remove pollutants and allergens from the air when lit. Candles made from paraffin pollute the air with black soot.

Invitations:-Make invitations yourself from recycled cards, magazines or paper. Do away with paper entirely and send invitations out by email or text. Make your own seeded invitations using junk mail or old newspaper. When the party is over guests can plant their invitation and grow flowers or vegetables.

Plates, cups, knives and forks:-use reusable where ever possible. Alternatively use earth friendly biodegradable kinds. These are made from recycled paper, cornstarch or vegetable starch. Compost, worm farm or dig a hole and bury in garden when used.

Loot Bags:-ditch the made in china plastic toys that last for 2 minutes. Give green goody bags made from cloth or plain brown paper bags. Fill with earth friendly treats such as wooden toys with no packaging, seed packets, small pot plants such as a swan plant, a vegetable plant or a native plant. Pop a written eco-tip in for Mum and Dad to read.

Gifts:-designing a child’s party around a good cause encourages creative gift giving that reduces waste and unwanted plastic. Perhaps it could be a puppy theme where guests bring something to donate to the local animal shelter. A garden theme party could include live plant gifts to create a butterfly garden or native bird garden. Request used toys and books. Wooden toys or stuffed animals filled with cotton are good ideas. Ask guests not to wrap gifts at all or to only use recycled gift wrapping.

Decorations:-instead of the usual disposable streamers use flowers, rose petals, tea lights floating in water or autumn leaves to decorate the room.

Games:-games such as charades, musical chairs and treasure hunts are all fun and create zero waste. Make your own Pinatas with paper mache glued over a balloon and save yourself a lot of money in the process.

Article by GreenUrbanLiving.co.nz

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