Much like everybody else, we here at Postconsumers like to get our party on! For much of the nation, New Year’s Eve is the single best night of the year to party, and why not? You’re celebrating one year successfully completed and another year about to start. But parties can be wasteful and we all know it. Want to make sure that your New Year’s Eve bash is both fun and good for the planet? Here are some tips to make it happen.
Going Out on the Town? Share a Limo With Others.
If your night includes heading out, don’t take your vehicle. Share a limo (or taxi, or a car driven by a designated driver) with the group of people that you’re celebrating with. You’ll reduce the amount of carbon footprint left by your outing. You’ll also keep yourselves safer by being sure that nobody gets behind the wheel drunk. Public transportation is another great alternative because, trust us, you’ll see some amazing sights on public transportation on New Year’s Eve. While we, of course, think bicycles are always the most eco-friendly form of transportation (except for walking or swimming!), we caution you about biking on New Year’s Eve. Unfortunately, there will be many drunk drivers out and bikes are simply at risk on crowded roads full of inebriated people.
Avoid “Throw-Away” Decorations
If you’re hosting your own event, avoid the temptation to go to the Dollar Store or party store and stock up on paper hats and banners that you’ll just throw away the next day. Instead, opt for upcycled or reused decorations from previous years. And remember, sometimes fewer decorations can actually look better.
Opt for Candlelight
Turn off the twinkling lights and disco balls and instead light the room with eco-friendly soy candles. It’s more romantic and more environmentally friendly. Just remember, not all candles are created equally when it comes to being good for the planet.
Recycle Those Champagne Bottles
Let the champagne flow! But then let the bottles find their way to a recycling bin.
Pick Earth-Friendly Snacks and Appetizers
Whether you’re eating out or serving others, you can make more responsible decisions about what you eat. It’s okay to enjoy a steak on New Year’s Eve (though meat, in general, creates a huge carbon footprint), but try to select meat that you know the source of. Avoid pre-packaged individual appetizers if you’re serving at home. And, of course, remember that there’s no more earth-friendly and healthy New Year’s Eve snack than seasonal, local produce.
Don’t Buy “One-Use” Outfits
If you’re headed out on New Year’s Eve, don’t spend a ton of money (and resources) purchasing an outfit that you’re going to only wear once. Consider hitting a thrift or consignment store, borrowing from a friend or doing a “New to You” party or renting high end clothing and accessories for the night. You can make the night special without having spent a fortune and having wasteful items left over afterwards.
Consider a Quiet Night In Instead
And don’t forget, you can enjoy New Year’s Eve with a quiet evening in, too. It’s safer, less impactful on the environment, and can give you some time to reflect on the previous year and plan your goals for the next year. Sometimes, the best parties are the ones you have quietly in your living room.
Do you have an idea on how to have a more eco-friendly New Year’s Eve? Comment below or share it with us on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.
Need more assistance in learning to let go of the consumer media’s impact on your life, take control of your finances and find the satisfaction of enough for today? The Get Satisfied Interactive Handbook is a 30-minute web course that walks you through a series of specific questions and then presents a personalized how-to plan for becoming a postconsumer. Launch your evaluation for free right now.
Photo via Flickr Creative Commons: iShot71
