[written by Jamie, an expert over at CSN Baby]
From hybrid cars to organic fruits & veggies...even an organic hardwood crib- seemingly everything under the sun is eco-friendly these days! With the abundance of eco-friendly products and services on the market today, it's becoming easier and easier to live greener lives.
Now, an eco-friendly baby shower? That sounds kind of crunchy, right? Not so fast! When you think about parties you've thrown in the past, remember all of the waste! Plastic cups, plates and utensils, bottles, cans, decorations and bags and bags full of wrapping paper - what a mess! Chances are you didn't take the time to sort out all of the recyclables and it all wound up in the trash. In this day and age, who can afford to be so wasteful! For the next baby shower you throw, why not consider going green? It's easy and here are some helpful tips!
Preparing Your Home
If you're hosting the baby shower in question, you've got to clean house! Having a house free from dust, molds and other toxins is absolutely essential if you're going to be hosting a mother-to-be. If you use eco-friendly, natural cleaning products when cleaning your home and you're off to a good start. Minimize the use of air fresheners and sprays which are loaded with chemicals. Get some natural potpourris or soy candles for a more subtle, fresh scent. Fresh flowers are also a great idea! Ask your florist to skip the florist foam and use stones instead.
Decorating Your Home
When decorating your home for the shower, consider eco-friendly alternatives to old standards. Keep in mind that this may require some creativity and imagination on your part. Instead of balloons, why not hang some paper lanterns? You don't need to worry about lighting the lanterns as brightly colored lanterns make for a striking display by themselves! If you are determined to use balloons at your soirée, consider getting some biodegradable balloons. If you're crafty, get some nice pieces of cardboard or recycled poster board and make some collages or posters filled with pictures of your friends, children, etc. Shop in advance online at places like greenpartygoods.com for a variety of party hats, streamers and other party time essentials made from natural and recycled materials.
Eco-Friendly Dining Tips
Shop your local natural foods store or market and pick up lots of fresh produce. If you're having the event catered, look into an eco-friendly, natural and organic caterer. Serve your food on real dishes or at the very least reusable plastic dishes. There are also a variety of paper plates on the market made from recycled materials. The only catch is that you need to clean these off if you plan on recycling them again. Also, make sure that you set out some clearly marked recycling and trash bins for your guests.
Green Gift Giving Tips
It wouldn't be out of the question to ask that your guests use gift wrap alternatives when wrapping their respective gifts. Recycled paper bags, newsprint, even a cloth diaper or baby blanket all can be used to wrap gifts. If you go to the right places or shop online, you'll also be able to find recycled gift wrap which might look nicer than a present wrapped in a diaper. All I'm saying is you have plenty of eco-friendly options! As far as purchasing gifts, PVC-free is the way to go! Look for toys made from organic cotton or wool and natural hardwoods.
Throwing a green baby shower is a fun and creative way to give back to the earth. It's also a great way to introduce friends and family to a greener, cleaner living lifestyle. Don't be afraid to go all out. Crunchy? Maybe a little bit, but green is good so be proud and have fun with it!
From hybrid cars to organic fruits & veggies...even an organic hardwood crib- seemingly everything under the sun is eco-friendly these days! With the abundance of eco-friendly products and services on the market today, it's becoming easier and easier to live greener lives.
Now, an eco-friendly baby shower? That sounds kind of crunchy, right? Not so fast! When you think about parties you've thrown in the past, remember all of the waste! Plastic cups, plates and utensils, bottles, cans, decorations and bags and bags full of wrapping paper - what a mess! Chances are you didn't take the time to sort out all of the recyclables and it all wound up in the trash. In this day and age, who can afford to be so wasteful! For the next baby shower you throw, why not consider going green? It's easy and here are some helpful tips!
Preparing Your Home
If you're hosting the baby shower in question, you've got to clean house! Having a house free from dust, molds and other toxins is absolutely essential if you're going to be hosting a mother-to-be. If you use eco-friendly, natural cleaning products when cleaning your home and you're off to a good start. Minimize the use of air fresheners and sprays which are loaded with chemicals. Get some natural potpourris or soy candles for a more subtle, fresh scent. Fresh flowers are also a great idea! Ask your florist to skip the florist foam and use stones instead.
Decorating Your Home
When decorating your home for the shower, consider eco-friendly alternatives to old standards. Keep in mind that this may require some creativity and imagination on your part. Instead of balloons, why not hang some paper lanterns? You don't need to worry about lighting the lanterns as brightly colored lanterns make for a striking display by themselves! If you are determined to use balloons at your soirée, consider getting some biodegradable balloons. If you're crafty, get some nice pieces of cardboard or recycled poster board and make some collages or posters filled with pictures of your friends, children, etc. Shop in advance online at places like greenpartygoods.com for a variety of party hats, streamers and other party time essentials made from natural and recycled materials.
Eco-Friendly Dining Tips
Shop your local natural foods store or market and pick up lots of fresh produce. If you're having the event catered, look into an eco-friendly, natural and organic caterer. Serve your food on real dishes or at the very least reusable plastic dishes. There are also a variety of paper plates on the market made from recycled materials. The only catch is that you need to clean these off if you plan on recycling them again. Also, make sure that you set out some clearly marked recycling and trash bins for your guests.
Green Gift Giving Tips
It wouldn't be out of the question to ask that your guests use gift wrap alternatives when wrapping their respective gifts. Recycled paper bags, newsprint, even a cloth diaper or baby blanket all can be used to wrap gifts. If you go to the right places or shop online, you'll also be able to find recycled gift wrap which might look nicer than a present wrapped in a diaper. All I'm saying is you have plenty of eco-friendly options! As far as purchasing gifts, PVC-free is the way to go! Look for toys made from organic cotton or wool and natural hardwoods.
Throwing a green baby shower is a fun and creative way to give back to the earth. It's also a great way to introduce friends and family to a greener, cleaner living lifestyle. Don't be afraid to go all out. Crunchy? Maybe a little bit, but green is good so be proud and have fun with it!
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