8 Tips on how to Go Green with Sustainable Parties!

Is it possible to organise sustainable parties? 

As party planners, we do sometimes see a lot of decor being thrown away after a party.

For instance, Halloween costumes are worn for just a few days. Microfoil balloons are thrown away. (Yes, you can recycle them). Additional goodies bags for children who didn’t turn up for parties may be wasted.

Here are 8 tips on how to be green and yet fun! 

1. Send e-invites! (Instead of printed invites)

Almost everyone uses whatsapp in SIngapore so it is a perfect way to reach out to your guests. There are many websites like canva.com which you can create your own e-invite for free or a nominal fee. 

Some venues do provide printed invitation cards but instead of taking them, ask them for e-invites. If you really must use physical invitation cards, return the extras which are not used to the venue so they can use them for other guests.

In fact, we do provide free generic invites as well as customised ones for most of our theme parties.

2. Rent instead of buy!

From table skirting to dessert table props, decorations to costumes, a lot of these are available for rent!

Try carousell or party portal websites or even your party planner.  For instance we  do rent our dinosaur and science decorations if you want to do the decor yourself. 

3. Ask your guests not to bring presents. (Donate to a charity instead.)

Ask your guests to donate any amount they want to your favourite charity in lieu of presents. This is a great way for the children to learn how to appreciate the little things in life. Let your children understand who this is for and how their money can help people in another country in a special way.

Personally, I actually explain what each charity is about and let them chose their own. We bring them down to the charities so they can experience for themselves what the money is for. Sometimes there are volunteers or staff who will do a guided tour for them. 

You can also do this via Gift-It-Forward which  is an online invitation platform that helps you plan parties with a charitable twist. By sending your invitations through this service, you can choose a dream gift to save for (like a bicycle for a kid, a day at the spa for a lady) and choose a charity to support from their list of partners.  And instead of people bringing individual gifts to your party, they can give a monetary gift in the amount that they would normally spend on a gift, and contribute through the website to a gift fund.  Gift-It-Forward pools together all the contributions and split them between your gift and your charity.  Now that’s something to celebrate!

4. Reduce the use of disposable utensils. 

• Ask the guests to bring cups and plates– This may be a little challenging but with more awareness, most people are good with the idea of being green. Several of my friends do bring their chopsticks, straws, spoons, etc around so they can avoid using disposables. 
• Use environmentally-friendly utensils – These are more common nowadays, some of made of corn and another made of coconut leaves, which are biodegradable.
• Reuse your cups – Bring a marker along and ask the children to write their names and reuse the cup for the whole party. This can even be an activity for the children to decorate their cups.

5. Be creative with your sustainable party decorations

• Make use of LCD screens or TVs, which are already at your function room to be your “poster”.
• Use books/comics as your decor.

  

6. Celebrate together! 

Instead of celebrating it twice, have a joint party for the siblings or BFF so you save resources. Read more about it here.

7. Useful Goodies

Get useful items like stationery or things which children will use in school. You can even let them choose item which they need  if they are old enough.

That is also why when we designed Mr Bottle’s Goodie Box, we included useful items like pencils, sharpener, eraser and notebook.

8. Join a Party Recycling community in Singapore

In this group, you can choose to rent your halloween costume to someone, bless your microfoil balloons to others, or sell your excess goodie bags, etc. 

Anything which is related to celebrations, events and parties, you can post them here!

A community works if there are more people so tell your friends about this group! 

Bonus Tip: Avoid Helium Balloons.

Unfortunately, the world is running low on helium supply and it is needed for medical purposes so try to avoid helium balloon unless you really need them.

There are many decorations like balloon arches and columns which uses air-filled balloons which are definitely much more environmentally friendly.(Most balloons are biodegradable by the way.)

Let us know how you organise your own sustainable parties. 

If you need more inspiration to plan your own Green event or sustainable activities for kids at work events, here are 10 ideas for you.