Tips for a Truly Earth-Conscious Event

With this list of tips and a little creativity, you can kick your Zero Waste event into high gear! Have a great idea not listed here? Let us know, so we can share it with others.

• For informal events, use electronic invitations. E-mail guests individually, send a group email or use an electronic invitation service, such as www.evite.com.
  
• When sending paper invitations, select those made from post-consumer recycled paper or tree-free alternatives, such as hemp.
  
• Make sure your invitation is recyclable. Avoid bright-colored, dark-colored, fluorescent or metallic papers, which cannot be recycled.
  
• Start spreading the word about Zero Waste in your invitation. Include a note letting guests know you are hosting a Zero Waste event. Ask them to support you by recycling the invitation and by bringing only reusable, recyclable or compostable items with them to the event (especially important if you are hosting a potluck).
  
• Additional resources:

  Electronic Invitations
  www.evite.com
  www.sendomatic.com

Recycled Paper and Invitations
www.twistedlimbpaper.com
www.paporganics.com

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Transportation

• Choose an event site near public transportation.
  
• Encourage your guests to bike, walk, take the bus or carpool to your event rather than drive in separate vehicles.
  
• Include information about bus routes and nearby bike paths in your invitation
  
• Additional resources:

  Front Range Public Transportation Trip Planner
  www.rtd-denver.com

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Decorations

• Avoid decorations designed for one-time use (streamers, balloons, etc.).
  
• Create centerpieces from what you have. For example, a favorite piece of pottery makes a great focal point for a table. Or, make centerpieces from fresh fruit and vegetables or potted plants.
  
• When using flowers, buy local, organically-grown flowers whenever possible.
  
• At the end of the event, encourage guests to take decorations with them to enjoy in their own homes.

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• Plan the menu to include seasonal, organic food from a local farm.
  
• Serve meatless dishes at your event (Meat production is responsible for 18% of human-induced greenhouse gas emissions and a major source of land and water degradation). If you decide to serve meat, choose meat raised sustainably by a local farmer.
  
• When shopping for food, buy in bulk whenever possible and use containers from home (rather than plastic bags). Choose food with less packaging, and bring your own reusable cloth bags to transport the food home.
  
• Serve coffee and tea that is organic, shade grown and/or fair trade.
  
• Select organic, locally-produced wines and spirits.
  
• Use dishes, cups and utensils that can be washed and reused, rather than single-use food serviceware. If you do not own enough of an item, rent from a local rental company.
  
• If you must use single-use dishes and utensils, use compostable items made from corn and/or sugarcane and find a local source to compost them. Learn more about Eco-Cycle’s Zero Waste Event Kit.
  
• Provide cloth napkins instead of paper.
  
• If you must use paper napkins, make sure they’re made with 100% post-consumer recycled content.
  
• If you are hiring a catering service, choose one that is familiar with the concept of Zero Waste. If a caterer usually serves food in disposable containers, ask if they will use ceramic or glass serving pieces that you supply. Request they prepare your food with local, seasonal ingredients.
  
• Additional resources:

  Farmers’ Markets
  www.boulderfarmers.org
  www.longmontfarmers.org

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Favors and Gifts

• Avoid giving throw-away trinkets as party favors. Instead, select sustainable or reusable alternatives such as organic chocolates, a small picture frame or a gift certificate to a local environmentally-friendly business. Or, skip the party favors and make a donation to a local environmental charity in your guests’ honor instead.
  
• Give eco-friendly gifts, such as organic items or gifts made from recycled materials. Again, consider giving a gift certificate for a service or to a consignment shop.
  
• Avoid purchasing gifts in excessive packaging. Make sure any packaging can be recycled.
  
• Consider asking guests to make a donation to a local environmental organization or other non-profit instead of bringing gifts.
  
• When wrapping gifts, avoid extra packaging. For example, a shirt can be neatly rolled and tied with a cloth ribbon, rather than put in a box with tissue paper and wrapped with traditional wrapping paper. (Traditional wrapping paper is not recyclable.)
  
• Choose gift wrap that is reused or reusable, such as brown shopping bags or cloth gift bags. If you must use wrapping paper, select paper that is made of recycled content or from tree-free alternatives.
  
• Instead of ribbon, consider using natural fiber raffia, which can be reused and then composted. Or, use cloth ribbon, which can be reused.
  
• Additional resources:

  Guides to Environmentally-Friendly Businesses
  www.greenheartguide.net
  www.redirectguide.com/denver
  www.coopamerica.org

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Cleaning Up

• Make sure you are prepared to compost and recycle. Eco-Cycle’s Zero Waste Event Kit provides all the tools you need.
  
• Pack leftover food in reusable containers. Avoid plastic wraps, plastic bags and wax-paper. Arrange in advance to donate extra food to a local food bank, or invite your guests to take home any leftovers.

• Avoid toxic chemicals when cleaning. Consider making your own non-toxic cleaners at home. Many basic cleaners can be made from non-toxic ingredients, such as baking soda, Borax, white vinegar, lemon juice and washing soda; click here for a full list of non-toxic cleaner recipes.
  
• If you decide to purchase cleaning supplies, pick products made with non-toxic ingredients.
  
• Go to www.ecocycle.org and click on the “find your local center” drop-down menu for information about recycling drop-off locations throughout Boulder County. Visit our hard-to-recycle guide (also on the home page) if you are not sure how to reuse or recycle a material leftover from your event.

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• Consider purchasing carbon offsets for your event. Companies selling these “green credits” can help you calculate how to offset carbon generated by your event and by guests traveling to and from your event.
  
• Use your party to educate your guests about Zero Waste and how they can incorporate Zero Waste principles in their own lives. You can do this through an announcement, a discussion or by distributing literature to guests as they leave your event. Eco-Cycle would be happy to provide you with copies of the latest Eco-Cycle Times newsletter to distribute to guests. Contact us for more information.
  
• Make your party action-oriented. Consider setting up a letter-writing station at the party. Pick a local issue that is important to you and your guests and encourage them to write a letter to a local government official, congressperson or senator expressing their views on the issue.
  
• Carbon offsets

Not all renewable energy credit (REC) and carbon offset providers are created equal: Numerous providers carry landfill gas and incineration projects in their energy mix as a way to lower their rates. Fortunately, there are plenty of new wind and solar projects for you to support, free of energy derived from waste. As a consumer or an institution, you can use your money to vote for these projects and to demand renewable energy really means renewable. View of our list of waste-free energy providers. In the Boulder area, check out Big Tree Climate Fund.

When purchasing renewable energy certificates (REC) or carbon offsets, be sure to ask your provider about their energy mix. Ask specific questions about what projects are included, how often this changes, and whether your provider supports energy generated from landfill gas or waste incineration. Choose providers that support new projects that would not have happened otherwise and look for providers who are independently verified to ensure your RECs and offsets are not double-counted or resold.

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