At Kindergifts we are all about being kind: to ourselves, to people around us, and the environment. That’s why we’ve decided to put together a brief guide for mums and dads on how to make a child’s birthday party more sustainable and more meaningful.
Party invitations – go digital.
There is a wide range of alternatives to paper invitations. You can either design your invitation for free on sites like Canva or apps like WordSwag, or you can use the services of paid digital invitation sites that also offer event management functionality.
We stand out amongst those invitation platforms as we offer something very special. Not only can you use our event management functionality and personalise your invitations for free, but you can also fundraise for a meaningful gift for your child and a good cause, all at once. One condition is that you have to donate at least 25% of the funds raised to a charity – we think this is the best part of what we do!
Party decorations – think reusable and less plastic
If you have some time to plan a party, the best way to create a sustainable decor is to reuse what you have at home. You can have fun with your birthday girl or boy making garlands from pop-corns, bunting from old fabric, homemade pom-poms and paper chains. Adding some fresh plants and flowers can create a magical atmosphere.
Our personal favourite for a baby/toddler’s birthday celebration is a string with your little one’s photos (monthly for the 1st birthday). Have a look at some inspiration here.
If you prefer ready-made decoration, most party suppliers now offer biodegradable tableware (e.g. palm leaf plates), wooden confetti and paper honeycomb balls to replace balloons. You can see a wonderful range of eco-decorations offered by The Original Party Bag Company, The Conscious Party Box or Little Cherry. There is even now eco-friendly glitter suppliers like Eco Glitter Fun.
Maybe you can consider hiring some props for a party if you are planning a bigger gathering (see examples of what can be hired here) or find a local small supplier such as Eco Party Pack Cheltenham.
Catering – shop from your local farmers’ market
If you would like to be sustainable throughout, think about the food you will serve during your party. Reduce the mileage and packaging of what you buy. Consider shopping at a local farmers’ market (see all the London locations here) and buying food in bulk from places like The Source Bulk Food.
If you would like to order catering, you can choose somebody who shares your values of sustainability and pay attention on reducing plastic usage, managing food waste and focuses on local and seasonal produce. PI Event Catering sets a good industry standard.
What makes a sustainable entertainment
Make sure the entertainers share your view on sustainability and avoid things like Pass The Parcel with little presents that end up in a landfill the next day or balloon making (if you are still not sure how balloons impact the environment, see here).
You may consider having an educational twist to your celebration and takes children for a tour of Kew Gardens, the Wetland Centre or the Welsh Harp Environmental Education Centre to teach them about the importance of sustainability.
Party bags – avoid plastic and Pound Shops’ fillers
There are so many sustainable options available now for party bags from suppliers such as Ethical Kidz, Plastic Free Party Bags, Cotton Twist, Eco Party Bag, The Paper Party Bag Shop and Helpful Kids with their fun games for young Eco Warriors.
Another option is for your guests to make their home presents as a part of the entertainment like DIY personalised t-shirts or tote bags.
Even if you just avoid plastic Pound Shop’s fillers, glitter, balloons and slime, you are doing already pretty well!
Make your party more sustainable with your gift expectations
As parents of young children, you may have experienced the gift overload that comes with 20+ guests and presents after a class birthday party. To make gifting more sustainable, consider using our Kindergifts platform to make it easy for your guests to contribute towards a meaningful gift for your child as well as to raise money for a charity that you care about. If you have an environmental charity you would like to fundraise for, please get in touch and we’ll add them in no time.
Happy party planning !
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