How (and why) to Throw a Green Party

What do Sheryl Crow, the Simpsons and Elle Magazine have in common? They all recently threw eco-friendly parties! From baby showers to movie premieres, everyone is going green. Now it's easy for you to throw an eco-friendly party at home, with these simple tips and product suggestions from evo.com

Preparation: Eliminate paper waste right off the bat by sending your guests electronic invitations, such as those offered by Evite. If you prefer to do things the old-fashioned way, send cards made either with 100% post-consumer waste or tree-free cards made from recycled fabric, bamboo or other sustainable fibers. Encouraging your guests to carpool can eliminate not only the jammed-driveway issue, but reduce the overall carbon footprint of your party. Also, did you know that the average American's waste output increases by 25% over the holidays, and 80% of that increased waste is just in wrapping paper and gift bags? Help cut down on this excess waste by asking your guests to give an alternative gift this year, such as a donation in your or your child's name, or have an ever-popular white elephant gift exchange. Just be sure when wrapping presents that they are wrapped either in something reusable (such as a recycled tote bag) or 100% post-consumer waste wrapping paper.

Dishes: The most waste-free option, obviously, is to use your own. If you don't want to be left with all those dishes to do, however, there are some options for you. Both Bambu and Preserve make one-time use products. Bambu's plates, utensils and serving pieces are all made of highly renewable and biodegradable bamboo, and Preserve's plates and utensils are made from 100% recycled and recyclable plastic. Since 35% of the waste in the US is paper-waste, every little bit counts! The cup dilemma is one that plagues most every party – someone uses a cup, forgets where they set it, and grabs another. Cut down on waste significantly by offering a marker for guests to write their name on their cup, or better yet, use biodegradable cups and toss them in with your food scraps when you're all done. If you do use your own dishes, be sure and only run the dishwasher when full, saving water and energy.

Food and Beverages: Serving conventional snacks and drinks? You're serving your guests more than 300 different pesticides that were used to grow that product – just one of the many reasons to serve organic. Many caterers are now offering organic menus, and most grocery stores now carry organic products, including beer and wine. Better yet, buy your produce from your local farmer's market. Produce purchased locally is often higher in nutritive value because it was picked at the height of freshness and not shipped across the country or the world!

Serving: Did you know that it actually takes more water to make one bottle of water than is actually in the bottle itself, and that only 10% of water bottles are recycled? Cut down on this huge source of waste, and offer water and other beverages to your guests in glass carafes. Offer recycling bins to your guests for any cans and bottles that are used, and put food scraps in a compost bin, cutting down on the 20% of landfill space that is taken up by food waste. If barbequing outside, switch out your charcoal grill for a gas one. Charcoal sends smoke and particulate matter into the air, while gas grills are cleaner burning. The biggest way to reduce energy while grilling? Turn off all the lights in your house while everyone is gathered around the barbeque. Surrounding your party area with solar lanterns has a beautiful effect and zero impact on the environment. It doesn't get much better than that!

Décor: Not only does a cozy fire provide ambience, it also reduces the need to have the heat on in the house. By burning an eco-friendly log, such as the java log, you're not only reducing the amount of VOCs and particulate matter released by your fireplace, but eliminating the need for more trees to be cut down just for firewood. You can also increase your home's ambience by decorating with candles and turning down the lights. Look for soy or beeswax candles – preferable in a recycled glass votive!

Cleanup: When the party is over use natural cleaning products and avoid some of the 62 toxic chemicals contained in traditional cleaning products. Make sure all of your compost and recycling products make it to the appropriate places, sit back, and enjoy the fact that you just had a low-impact party.

- Laura Tallon, EVO Media