THE ENTIRE world is driving towards sustainability, which is important in the effort to maintain our environment. Scotland has been at the forefront of this, and each of us has to pull their weight to achieve this overall goal. If you are hosting a birthday party, there are several choices you can make to ensure that you celebrate while reducing the impact of the party on the environment.
Today, we’ll show you several ways you can host an eco-friendly birthday party.
Choose a Green Venue
The most important step in ensuring you achieve the sustainability levels you have in mind is choosing the right venue. This is because the venue you choose will basically set the tone of the entire event, and it will also account for the largest carbon footprint in your party. It is therefore important to ensure that the venue shares the same sustainability goals as you and that they have implemented several green practices.
The good thing is there are lots of places to rent for birthday parties in Scotland that have sustainability as a key consideration. Most of these venues have embraced the use of renewable energy sources such as solar power, which goes a long way in reducing carbon emissions. Others may contribute to the preservation of the environment by offering comprehensive recycling programs and waste reduction strategies.
Send Digital Invitations
We’ve traditionally sent paper invitations for parties or all forms, but these have a huge impact on the environment. Paper involves cutting down trees, and it also has to be processed. To reduce this carbon print, you can send your invitations via email or social media platforms.
Sending digital invites is quite friendly to the environment as it doesn’t require extra resources, just the devices you use and your regular internet connection. But it also offers lots of other benefits, such as the fact that it’s much cheaper. You can also edit or update your invitations, and your guests will have an easy time doing their RSVP.
Set Up Sustainable Decorations
You will of course want to create a festive and vibrant atmosphere at your birthday party, which usually involves buying lots of decorations. Unfortunately, most of these are often single-use. One of the best ways you can show that you are committed to preserving the environment is by going for reusable decorations. These are things such as banners and fabric decorations. They are not only reusable but they are often made of eco-friendly materials, unlike one-time-use decorations.
Besides the obvious birthday celebration decorations, you can also bring your environmental vibe to the celebrations. You can do this by using potted plants, flowers, and biodegradable balloons. If there are certain decorations you want that are often made of plastic or microplastics ( such as glitter), make sure that you ask for biodegradable alternatives or those that are made from natural materials.
Eco-Friendly Tableware
Birthday parties traditionally involve the use of disposable tableware, usually made from plastic. These and other parties make a huge contribution to the ever-concerning problem of plastic pollution that affects lots of wildlife and the environment in general.
For your party, you can opt for eco-friendly tableware. These are items that usually made of compostable or biodegradable material such as bamboo, palm leaves, sugarcane, or corn starch. They will break down naturally when disposed of, so they will leave minimal impact on the environment. Ensure that you also avoid plastic straws, as there are more eco-friendly options.
Reduce and Recycle your Waste
Besides using eco-friendly tableware, you can also make a huge difference during the preparations. This is by planning to have minimal waste generated from your party. There are several ways you can do this, one of them being planning your menu with waste reduction at the back of your mind. For example, you can avoid pre-packaged one-person items for attendees and opt for bulk or larger-sized food and drink containers. Attendees can refill their food or drink from these containers onto their eco-friendly cups or glasses.
Besides that, ensure that all waste generated from your party is well taken care of. Provide compost bins for both general waste and food scraps. And when the party is over, ensure the waste is properly sorted and disposed of. This will go a long way in ensuring that we protect our environment and achieve our sustainability goals.
