Talking About Green

Planning a party around the holidays can certainly be a hassle, what with having a full calendar of events to contend with, not to mention shopping, wrapping, and shipping presents, baking and cooking galore, and hosting family and friends that you only see once a year.  And yet, when all of your loved ones are gathered in your home, dressed to the nines and having a great time, you’re going to feel great about all your hard work on the front end – at least until you see the mountain of trash and realize that your moment of joy could have a long-term negative impact on the Earth.  So if you love to throw a lavish holiday party but you’re tired of all the pollution and waste that go into it, here are just a few tips to help you green up your white Christmas (or other holiday).

1. Food.  Doubtless the most important part of any party (holiday or otherwise) is the food.  When people come to your house you want them to leave happy and satisfied, and that starts with a good spread on the buffet table.  But if you only knew how much damage can be done with even a simple slate of catering you might not be so quick to cook up the holiday faves.  Luckily, there is a way to combat the chemical pollution and hydrocarbon emissions that are part and parcel of the food industry.  Simply buy local and organic foods for your feast.  You may even find that there are artisan vineyards or craft breweries in your area that create organic alcohol, as well.
2. Serving.  Plastic plates are handy, to be sure, but they’re also terrible for the planet.  The problem with most disposable products is that they are non-biodegradable.  So instead of increasing the size of the landfill, opt for green alternatives that are just as easy for you.  Bare paper plates, for example, are sustainably created (with renewable sugar cane) and they are also compostable.  Of course, if you’re looking for one-stop shopping, you may want to check out worldcentric.org.  They can meet all of your serving needs with green options for plates, cups, flatware, and even containers with lids to send home leftovers.
3. Decorations.  This is where the eco-friendly side of party planning starts to get fun, because there are so many ways to green up the décor.  For starters, get fancy with the linens.  Skip the paper products and go with tablecloths, napkins, runners, and more made from organic fabrics with holiday print.  And for centerpieces, use nature for inspiration.  Go for a walk in the woods to collect fallen pinecones, branches, and even interesting rocks to place in a bowl with a bit of ribbon.
4. Flowers.  Cut flowers are pretty (and pretty easy), but on the whole, not so eco-friendly (unless you’re growing them yourself).  Instead, think about adding some color to your space with potted plants (even a small, potted pine tree could be neat since you can decorate it) or get trendy by cutting out paper floral arrangements.  You’ll be surprised how fancy they look and you have a million options when it comes to recycled paper products.
5. Entertainment.  Even if you’re doing corporate entertainment New York style or you’re planning a party in Vegas this holiday season, there’s no reason you can’t find ways to do it that are a little kinder to the Earth.  Hiring local performers is a must since you don’t want to ship people in (adding to greenhouse gas emissions).  But perhaps you can simply pull out the piano bench and get everyone in the holiday spirit with a few carols.