When you consider the mountain of wrapping paper, plastic forks and goody bag detritus that remain after a child’s birthday, throwing a greener party may seem as feasible as offering unicorn rides. But sustainability experts say it’s entirely possible to throw a fun, more eco-friendly party — and while some switches take some effort, others can save time, money and stress.
“I don’t want parents to feel bad,” said Jenna Jambeck, a plastic pollution researcher at the University of Georgia, noting that we need systemic changes to make it feasible for more people to ditch disposable supplies at events and beyond. But, she said, “parties are gatherings of our peers and kids. Being able to normalize reuse systems and not produce a lot of waste is a great way to collectively make a difference.”
Any effort to lighten our impact — wasting less food, using less plastic — benefits the generation whose birthday parties we’re hosting, and can also lighten a parent’s to-do list. Mya Sjogren, a sustainability analyst at the Environmental Protection Agency, suggests simply “doing less.” For her daughter’s parties, she skips decorations, party favors and gifts, and focuses on activities. So far no complaints from her 6-year-old, who is lobbying for a half-birthday party.
Here’s a guide to celebrating your child’s next trip around the sun in ways that tread a little lighter on the Earth.
