How to Host an Eco-Friendly Dinner Party
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With Mother’s Day just around the corner (Sunday May 14th) you may be planning a family get together or dinner party. A good plan will help ensure you perform impeccably as a host, and will help any reduce the possibilities of any issues arising. I mean, we’ve all had times where we forgot to grab all the ingredients for the meal, the ice for the drinks… or even worse, forgot to invite a particular guest! Follow these simple steps to hosting success while also remaining eco-friendly!
Make your intentions clear
The fact that your party is “green” shouldn’t be a secret. After all, why not take some pride in your efforts? We advise letting your guests know that you’re hosting an eco-friendly bash. It’ll encourage them to practice green habits while celebrating, and — who knows? — it might even inspire them to host their own parties the same way.
Turn off the lights
Just think of it as mood lighting: Keep energy usage to a minimum by simply turning off the lights. For evening events, using a few candles here and there will take care of any minor visibility problems while also creating a nice ambience in the room.
Go paperless
Of course, digital invites are the easiest way to avoid wasting paper. Check out the beautiful options at curated designer e-vite sites like Paperless Post, or simply try creating a Facebook event or email thread for a more casual affair. For the smallest gatherings, even a group text will do!
Don’t overcook
Keep costs down by knowing exactly how many people you need to feed. You can still be the world’s greatest host without offering thirds, fourths, and fifths. Sure, you don’t want your guests to go home hungry. But be strategic about it: Make sure guests know exactly how much grub there is (say, by strategically arranging platters or placing all food items in one area), and they’re bound to think twice before piling their plates too high.
Waste not
Loud, proud signage distinguishing recycling from trash receptacles is a must. Equally helpful are colored drink stirrers that will aid each attendee in keeping track of his or her glassware and stop them from reaching for a new glass on every pour. As it happens, eco-practices don’t just help the environment; they can also prove quite useful when it comes to cleanup as well!
Consider finger foods
With no plates or utensils in sight, finger foods will help to keep the waste (and costs) down right from the start. They’ll also encourage your guests to eat one item at a time, which means there’ll be less unfortunate overloading and subsequent waste. And in the rare case that fingers do prove ineffective (think: cocktail meatballs), we think a few toothpicks will still be acceptable by Mother Nature’s standards!
Keep it fresh
Shopping at the farmers’ market may not be one of the most visible green choices you can make, but it’s certainly the most important. Beyond the fact that you’ll probably come away with more interesting-looking varieties of fruits and vegetables than you would at a chain supermarket, you should note that smaller, local farms make efforts to effectively protect soil, air, and water resources. They also lower distribution costs and waste and promote genetic variation, biodiversity, and soil fertility. How’s that for a conversation starter?
If you have any more eco-friendly hints and tips that will help your next dinner party to go off without a hitch, let us know in the comments below. Keep up to date with our blog to stay on top of all things bamboo!