Use an Eco Party Planner: London ethical planners ‘Seventeen’ will ensure your party will be eco-friendly from the lighting to the food.
www.seventeenevents.co.uk
Invest in some party glasses: avoid using disposable plate and cups if you’re a regular party-thrower. You may be able to borrow boxes of glasses from where you order your drinks.
www.majestic.co.uk
Go for ethical alcohol: it may not prevent a nasty hangover, but try to choose Fairtrade when buying wine from South Africa, Chile or Argentina. You may think buying wine with a plastic cork is more environmentally friendly, but did you know that not a single tree is cut down in the production of real cork? So buy wine with a real cork as it helps maintain the cork forests of Europe which provide vital habitat for endangered species. (And a real cork is biodegradable!)
Also, why not try organic local wine, beer and spirits as it will save on the air miles and mean fewer pesticides.
www.englishorganicwine.co.uk
www.junipergreen.org
Choose organic party food: if you’re throwing a large party or wedding why not try an eco-caterer, who specialises in making orgnaic and Fairtrade party food?
www.passionorganic.com
Oh man I love the cake!: if you’re buying a cake for a Birthday, wedding or leaving do choose a cake with fewer chemical colourings and flavourings (which make you feel a bit queasy!) Try the Organic Chocolate Cake Company and the Organic Cake Company, who also try to use as many local ingredients as possible.
www.tocc.co.uk
www.theorganiccakecompany.co.uk
Pick eco-balloons: Balloons are more eco-friendly than you might think. They are made from latex taken from rubber trees in a way which doesn’t require the tree to be cut down. Balloons biodegrade at about the same rate as an oak leaf, however when they are released they can end up being swallowed by wildlife and sea animals. Avoid foil balloons as they do not biodegrade. Try an eco-balloon made from a material which dissolved in water or moisture.
www.ecovy.com
Environmentally-friendly generators: For a wedding or large event (even a bouncy castle!) think about whether to use a bio-fuel or solar-powered generator for a proper guilt-free party.
www.midas-uk.co.uk
www.windandsun.co.uk/exhibitions.htm
www.fireflysolar.co.uk
