Eco-Friendly Party Supplies: Sustainable Alternatives for Your Next Celebration

Are you throwing a party and looking for some eco-friendly party supplies to help you reduce your waste? Keeping your event sustainable can be tricky with all the options for single-use plastics and disposable items. Parties can end up filling up your garbage bins since many party supplies are not recyclable. Let's look at the most common party supply items and some sustainable alternatives you can try to reduce your event waste.

Balloons

Balloons are not accepted for recycling. In fact, this fun-filled decoration causes a lot more problems than you may realize. Balloon litter is a pervasive problem due to balloon releases. When you do a balloon release at a party or event, those plastic or foil balloons can harm aquatic life or wildlife. Many animals ingest balloon fragments or get entangled in the plastic or ribbon.

Swap balloons for:

• Planting a tree as a special commemoration instead of releasing balloons.
• Adding a festive element with a bubble machine.
• Hanging cardboard cutouts instead of balloons.

Crepe Paper Streamers

While stringing up crepe paper streamers creates a stunning display, the waste it generates is significant. Crepe paper is not recyclable because the paper fibers are broken down into the smallest usable pieces, which cannot be recycled into anything new.

Swap crepe paper for:‍

• Fabric strips or bunting that can be used over and over.
• Rerolling crepe paper to use a second or third time, although it breaks easily.
• Hanging reusable paper lanterns as decorations instead of disposable streamers.

Birthday Cake Candles

Candles are not accepted for recycling but are reusable. Birthday candles do not need to be thrown away after one use!

Instead of tossing candles:

• Use a single ornate candle instead of many to represent an age.
• Reuse candles year after year.‍
• ‍Melt down candle remnants and combine them with a new wick to create a decorative candle for your home.

Disposable Plastic Cups

The classic red Solo cup! These cups are 50/50 on recyclability, depending on your location.

Swap plastic cups for:

• Your glassware or reusable plastic cups, reducing plastic waste despite the extra dishes.‍
• ‍Asking guests to bring their own reusable bottle or travel mug, especially for outdoor BBQs.‍
• ‍Labeling disposable cups so only one cup is used per guest to minimize waste.

Paper Plates

Many think that since paper plates are made of paper, they can be recycled, but that's not usually the case. Many paper plates have a plastic coating, making them difficult to recycle.

Instead of paper plates, try:

• Using regular plates, reducing waste but increasing dishes.
• Serving food in reusable take-out containers for easy leftovers.
• Offering finger foods to reduce waste and cleanup.

Plastic Cutlery

Single-use plastic contributes significantly to plastic pollution, and very few recycling programs accept plastic cutlery.

Swap plastic cutlery for:

• Your normal silverware.
• Finger foods to avoid the need for cutlery.
• Bamboo cutlery, an organic option that decomposes more easily.

Napkins

Napkins are necessary for parties but not recyclable due to their small paper fibers and common soiling with food.

Swap paper napkins for:

• Cloth napkins, which can be washed and reused.
• Towel stations near garbage cans for guests.
• Hand sanitizer stations for guests to clean their hands.

Plastic Tablecloths

Disposable plastic tablecloths make cleanup easy but are not sustainable as they cannot be easily recycled.

Swap for:

• Traditional cloth tablecloths that are reusable after washing.
• Compostable tablecloths for easy backyard composting.

Going without a tablecloth and adding a flower center piece instead.Make sure you know the disposal rules of all your party decor and tableware by checking your local municipality for what is accepted. Always choose an eco-friendly option to reduce your waste. Party on!