Green Party Tips

10 ways to make your next party stylish, fun, and green.

Do as many of these tips as you can. Then reward yourself with a fresh mani and pedi for your party. Hey, even three or four of these ideas will help future generations of Nesties.

1. Evites are a must

Skip the pretty paper cards and save a tree or two. We know you love wowing your friends with your invitation creations, but you'll amaze them enough when they arrive, we promise! Plus, the Evite has a great way for you to still be clever with your post. We love uploading funny pictures and choosing pretty designs that even the pickiest guest will love. And be sure to get creative with the reply categories.

2. Use the stuff you've got

You know those dishes, glasses, and place settings you put on your registry but still haven't taken out of the cabinet? Now is the time to break them out. You'll have to do a little extra cleanup at the end of the night, but isn't reversing global warming worth an extra few minutes?

3. Personalize cups

If you insist on using disposable glassware, buy the kind made from recycled or sustainable materials (look for stuff manufactured from corn resin or sugar-cane stalk, or items labeled "biodegradable" or "100 percent recycled content"). And prevent the cup-mistaken-identity syndrome (you know, when someone takes a cup and places it next to an identical one, and then both people have to get new cups) by taking a Sharpie and marking each cup with a personalized monogram.

4. Light it up

Cut down on electricity and create a romantic (and, let's face it, flattering) glow by placing lit candles everywhere. Use soy or beeswax candles, which, unlike petroleum-based paraffin candles, won't emit toxic, sooty fumes.

5. Be thrifty

When looking for hosting odds and ends that will add a finishing touch to your decor -- like salad servers and place mats -- check out flea markets and thrift shops. As long as you wash them in incredibly hot water, you are actually getting something amazingly unique and doing your part to create less trash. After all, if you didn't buy it, it might have been thrown out.

6. Go local

Skip the produce aisle at your regular grocery store, and visit a local organic farm or market to grab your greens. Or if your supermarket chain carries a local organic vendor line, all the better. You'll not only get pesticide- and hormone-free products, but buying local items means they've had to travel only a short distance (versus thousands of miles) to get to your house. And if you haven't guessed it already, that means they used up less fuel.

7. Fill 'er up

Treat your friends to organic wines and spirits, and you'll be getting them drunk without the gunk of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Another reason you're hearing and seeing so much "buy organic" propaganda is that it supports farmers who make the extra effort to not pollute the soil, which helps Big Momma Earth.

8. Give away your decor

Decorate your pad with small organic plants -- they'll help clear the air of carbon dioxide, of course, and pump in more oxygen. Then give them away as favors. Encourage guests to plant them, and you'll be spreading that earth-lovin' love!

9. Recycle

This might be the "duh" tip of the day, but if you don't do it already, you must. Check absolutely everything you're about to throw away to see if you can use it again (even if it's to send home extra food with a guest). And if you can't use it, make sure glass, paper, and plastic products get thrown out in the recycle bin. This will preserve natural resources, cut down on junk heading to landfills, and reduce the amount of energy used and pollution emitted in the manufacturing of new products.

10. Clean up green

We've said it before and we'll say it again: Organic stuff equals good for the planet. So use spray cleaner and dishwashing liquid that won't add bad chemicals to the water supply, air, and soil. We like Method (methodhome.com) because its products smell yummy. And if you must use paper towels (reusable cloths are ideal), get recycled products from Seventh Generation (seventhgeneration.com) or Planet (planetinc.com). And for whatever waste you have (hopefully, it's not too much), use biodegradable trash bags, like the ones from BioBag (biogroupusa.com).

-- Christie Matheson
http://ideas.thenest.com/

Zero Waste Event Planning Tips

Making your wedding, meeting, or party into a zero-waste event can be a clear display of your stewardship for the environment as well as an educational experience for attendees. Done successfully, there are benefits for the environment including waste management (nothing goes to the landfill) and energy savings. However pulling it off is not as easy at it might seem. There are three questions to ask yourself when planning your zero-waste event.

First, can you use durable goods such as ceramics, silverware, glasses, and cloth tablecloths and napkins? If so, use them! This is often an option when events are held in churches or halls that have their own durables. Yes, there is some extra work since they need to be washed, but there will be much less trash to dispose or which will save you some money.

When durables aren't an option and you'd like to use compostable food service items, can you avoid contamination of compostables and/or recyclables? For example, can you instruct your attendees either verbally or through signage to separate out compostables, recyclables and any remaining trash? If not, you will likely end up with contaminated compostables and/or recyclables. Most people are not accustomed to this level of separating out their waste (yet!). Recycling has been around for a long time but even now at any given airport you'll find recyclables in the trash receptacles, so people are bound to make mistakes. These factors help avoid contamination:

• Only use compostables for the event.
• Instruct event attendees as a group as to how to dispose of their waste.
• Have someone present by receptacles to instruct attendees.
• Post very clear signage on waste receptacles.

Last, if you think you can avoid contamination of your compostables, do you have a place to compost your compostalbes? Check with your municipal waste facility to ask about drop-off composting options or commercial composting facilities in your area. You can also look for local composters at findacomposter.com. If there is a local commercial or municipal composting facility, be sure to ask which compostables they will accept. Many do not accept bioplastics.

Composting at home might be an option, but certified compostables are meant to be composted in commercial or municipal composting facilities where high temperatures and humidity are achieved. Most home composts do not achieve such conditions. Compostables made from paper and bagasse (residual from sugar cane) or other non-plastic compostables will likely break down more successfully in the home setting than compostable plastics, although information on home composting of bioplastics is lacking. Also consider the amount of compostables you will generate. If you have a family reunion for 50 people and a 3x3x3 foot bin, you will likely end up with an overflowing bin for a while.

Compostables require composting to fully break down and complete the biological cycle, but unfortunately not everyone has access to a commercial or municipal composting facility. Compostables can be used in areas where there are no composting facilities or home/farm composting options, but the benefits of using them are much less (if any). Bioplastics in landfills may last as long as traditional plastics, and landfilling them breaks the biological cycle that sustains us.

Author Description: Lynn Zanardi Blevins, MD, MPH is the founder of http://compostablegoods.com, a company offering compostable and biodegradable items and dedicated to the promotion of cradle to cradle product design. Dr. Blevins is a medical epidemiologist, an environmentalist, and an enthusiastic home composter.

http://ezinearticles.com/

7 Tips for Planning Your Green Wedding

At $20,000, the average wedding in the United States is not cheap, to say the least. It's rare to have that kind of spending power. So put your love and your wallet to work for the environment with these great green wedding ideas.

Before accepting or making a proposal, make sure you are starting the marriage off on the right foot with an eco-friendly ring. Conflict-free diamonds are a must. Try Polar Bear Diamonds, which follow strict labor and environmental guidelines. Another great option is Green Karat, which makes unique styles from recycled metals and responsibly mined diamonds. Any wedding needs something old, and something new -- which category will your ring fit into? A timeless vintage ring can be chic and trendy, not to mention environmentally responsible.

It's all about the dress. Make a statement in vintage, organic or sustainable materials. But don't stop with the bride's gown. Now, we know every bride tells her bridesmaids their dresses can be worn again; but it's important to truly choose wedding party dresses that can be worn again and cherished forever (not tossed out the day after). One rule of thumb: Fuchsia is not green.

Does lacy paper inscribed with checkboxes for prime rib or salmon, and its own little return envelope, really signify modern love? Paperless e-vites might be the most eco-friendly way to go, but if you want something more traditional, try recycled paper and ask for an online RSVP. Skip the printed directions and other info often stuffed into the envelope, and make your guests' first stop a Website with all the details.

A large part of your wedding dollar is spent on the location. If possible, choose a venue nearby most of your guests to cut down on their drive or fly times. If you have a botanical garden or park you support locally, why not ask if you might use the venue for your reception? If booking a hotel, consider a fuel-efficient shuttle to ferry guests to and from the ceremony and reception. Who wants a parking lot full of cars in their wedding photos anyway?

Local is the name of the game here. Check out wineries and breweries in your area. If there are none (or your guests' palates are too refined for anything but Chateauneuf du Pape) choose an organic or biodynamic wine alternative. For your meal, talk to the farmers at your local market to see what will be fresh at the time of your wedding, and see if you can order ahead. If you are working with a caterer, discuss local seasonal foods that you'd love to see on the menu. Chocolate strawberries for a spring bride? Yum.

How often can you shamelessly tell people exactly what gifts you want? Why not ask for some more meaningful items than the shiniest fondue pot in the store? (If you need help, check out our eco-chic wedding gift list.) Or register with a charitable registry like the IDoFoundation, which donates a percentage of the money spent on your gifts to a charity of your choice. Of course, the most eco-friendly way (although not as much fun) is to ask for no gifts at all... so if you don't need 'em, let your guests know.

To have and to hold... to pollute and to poison? Many traditional wedding flowers are doused with pesticides and shipped from halfway around the world. If you don't want to start your marriage with that kind of carbon footprint, try organic flowers or find out what flowers grow locally. Instead of traditional centerpieces, try potted plants that can double as gifts to your guests. (For some beautiful options, check out our organic flower ideas.)

A marriage is about love and a commitment to a shared future. The choices you make at your wedding can frame a lifetime: Live well by doing good. Your commitment will be everlasting. Shouldn't your wedding be sustainable, too?

Here's wishing you continued love for each other and the environment long after you say "I do."
Find tips on taking a great green honeymoon, as well as other green wedding suggestions, here.

http://www.thedailygreen.com/

100% Biodegradable Umbrella

With the last few weeks of winter finally drawing to a close, we can begin to look forward to the renewal that spring showers and the subsequent greenery promises. What better way to help you get a head start on greening your spring wardrobe then by introducing you to ‘The Brelli’, a 100% biodegradable umbrella? Good riddance to deflated black umbrellas littering city streets or piling up in landfills and neighborhood refuse bins. The Brelli aims to introduce us to a new era of rain gear - one where the life cycle of an umbrella is something that we can finally rely on and also factor into the seasons ahead with a clear, eco-friendly solution.

Stylishly crafted out of sturdy bamboo (a renewable resource) with a printable bioplastic canopy, The Brelli will apparently completely biodegrade in 18 to 24 months (though we would hope that there would be no need to dispose of it!). This artfully constructed umbrella is made in two sizes, a stow away 37″ diameter and a sidewalk parading 52″ diameter. Whether rain or shine, we hope that you will consider The Brelli as a possible way to clear the clouds of confusion when it comes to accessorizing in sustainable style.

Available at Fred Segal in Santa Monica and Jussara Lee in NYC (see website for details)

http://www.inhabitat.com/

Host the ultimate eco-affair — in your own home

For guilt-free entertaining, use planet-friendly alternatives to usual goods
By Marisa Belger - TODAYShow.com contributor - Aug. 19, 2008

Forget movies, concerts, and dinner out. These days my favorite social activity takes place in the comfort of my own home. That’s right, I’ve become an entertainer. From breakfast to brunch, midday snacks to light supper, even multicourse dinners and cocktail soirees — I’ve found that there’s nothing like gathering a bunch of people in the cozy comfort of your personal space.

But as I move deeper into my role as hostess and continue to throw parties both big and small, I’m starting to feel twinges of eco-guilt. The usual entertainment accoutrements — disposable plates, cups and silverware; one-use decorations; processed snack food, etc. — can be incredibly tough on the environment. In this era of all things sustainable, I guessed that there had to be planet-friendly alternatives to the usual party, but I wasn’t sure where to start.

Enter Celia Chen, ex-event planner and current editor-in-chief of Notesonaparty.com, an online magazine dedicated to entertaining. Chen knows how to throw a party, and today she’s equally versed in hosting the ultimate eco-affair. She recently answered a few of my questions, and I’ve now got what it takes to give my events a necessary green facelift.

I want to host a greener party — where should I start?
Take your party outside. Find a venue that incorporates elements of nature and host your event early — you’ll use less energy if you take advantage of natural light by hosting your event while the sun is still shining. Find a garden or terrace for drinks at sunset — it’s Mother Nature’s entertainment!

I’ve got hungry friends. What about the food?
Contrary to what you may think, an eco-friendly menu does not consist of bland, vegan food. If you serve organic and locally grown food, you can have pretty much any type of cuisine you desire, but without nasty pesticides, chemical additives or antibiotics.

Most leading grocery or specialty-food stores now offer organic produce and hormone-free meat. Or, find a local green market and support local farms and food artisans. Food that is in season and sourced locally is better for you and the planet. It’s fresher because it doesn’t have to travel as far to get to your plate.

If you don’t have time to prepare the food yourself, hire a green caterer in your area. In New York City we turn to Sage Events, a local sustainable caterer (operating since 1997) that prepares delicious food sourced from local family-run farms.

You can also set up a farm table with local artisan cheeses, organic fruits and vegetables and freshly baked bread.

They’re thirsty, too. Is it possible to serve eco-friendly cocktails, beer and wine?
Better ingredients make better cocktails, so stock your bar with organic wine and beer as well as spirits that are made in a sustainable way. Parducci is an organic winery that’s powered by solar panels and wind energy and also uses earth-friendly packaging. Peak Organic Beer has four signature brews made with barley and hops that are grown without pesticides and chemical fertilizers.

For eco-chic cocktails, we like to use Reyka, an Icelandic vodka made at a distillery powered by geothermal steam and to stir in natural mixers from Stirrings.

Disposable plates and silverware can’t be good for the environment, right? What are the alternatives?
When possible, use glassware for your events instead of plastic (which is made from petroleum) or paper (which ends up in the landfill). Tableware and glassware can be rented from local rental companies or through your caterer. They can deliver right to your door and will take away all the used items afterward — no dirty dishes to wash!

If you are dining outside and need a nonbreakable alternative, there are a few companies that make clear cups out of polymer, a substance that is made from corn and is 100 percent biodegradable. And Preserve by Recycline has great-looking tableware and cutlery sets in different colors made from 100 percent recycled plastic.

What about décor? How do I create a party atmosphere that will make both my guests and the planet happy?
Be creative with your décor. Buying mass-produced, disposable themed décor is unoriginal and, if you only use it once, pretty wasteful. You can find interesting ways to create atmosphere with everyday items. For example, vintage tea tins make great vases. Or find brightly colored fruit that’s in season to display as an edible centerpiece.

You can also buy seasonal flowers from the green market or an online retailer like Organic Bouquet that specializes in sustainably grown, fair-trade flowers. Their roses come in many different colors and smell amazing. Small potted plants are also an easy way to incorporate florals without having to arrange cut flowers. They can be given to guests as they leave or be enjoyed by you after the party.

And invites?
Go digital! The best way to save paper (and money) is to send a digital invitation. Pingg.com is a new online invitation and event management company that offers a great selection of modern images. Not only are the invitations free of advertising, but the interactive Web pages will let you upload photos, video and even set up a gift registry.

If your event is more formal, try paper invitations that are made from 100 percent organic cotton and printed with vegetable inks that are nontoxic. One of my favorite stationery companies is Smock, which handprints the most exquisite wedding invitations and birth announcements. They are the only letterpress printer in the U.S. that uses paper made from bamboo, which is a renewable resource.

There’s always so much left over at the end of a party. What’s the best eco-move for extra food, flowers, etc.?
Dealing with your post-party cleanup is the least glamorous part of your event, but an important aspect of being green. Sending your guests home with leftover food and bouquets of flowers is a thoughtful way to lessen your load.

You can also put out different bins for recycling bottles, cans and paper. This sends a low-key green message and helps to educate guests. If you hire a green caterer, they will be in charge of separating compostable food from garbage and will dispose of it properly.

Leftover food that hasn’t been touched can be donated to your local food bank. Make arrangements beforehand and find out their specific requirements.

What if you don’t have access to eco caterers and other green vendors? Can you still throw a sustainable soiree?
If eco-friendly vendors are scarce in your neighborhood, hop online to see what might be delivered to you. Or, be creative and use what you already have in your home. Vintage items and heirloom tablecloths are eco-friendly because you are continuing to use them and not buying something new.

Marisa Belger is a writer and editor with more than 10 years of experience covering health and wellness. She was a founding editor of Lime.com, a multiplatform media company specializing in health, wellness and sustainable living. Marisa also collaborated with Josh Dorfman on “The Lazy Environmentalist” (Stewart, Tabori, and Chang), a comprehensive guide to easy, stylish green living.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/