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November 4, 2023

How to Host an Eco-Friendly Holiday Party

Go green with these helpful hosting tips!

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Sustainable party buffet showing items wrapped in paper.

iStockPhoto / Liudmila Chernetska


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Hosting holiday parties can be one of the highlights of the season. Yet, Christmas gatherings can feel rough on the environment, with the bags of gift wrap, plastic food trays, and paper invites that all end up getting tossed in the trash. 

If you are planning on hosting a holiday party this year and want to help cut down on waste and make your party more eco-friendly, this guide can help. We’ll show you some tips for how to host an eco-green holiday party, without sacrificing the glitz and glam!

Digital Invites 

Digital holiday party invitation from Paperless Post.
Digital holiday party invitation from Paperless Post.
Paperless Post

Embrace eco-friendly practices by sending digital invites for your gathering. Not only do they reduce paper waste, but they're also convenient for your guests, allowing them to RSVP and add the date to their calendar right from their smartphones. Explore the various elegant designs available online from companies like Paperless Post and Evite, ensuring your invitation aligns with your eco-friendly party favors, decorations, and sustainable packaging choices. 

For guests off the grid, a warm phone call invitation can be the most thoughtful gift of the season. Let’s make RSVPs as fun as the party itself, while being eco-conscious!

Use Eco-Friendly Party Decorations

Four Christmas trees in pots, outside in a line.
Four Christmas trees in pots, outside in a line.
iStockPhoto / dmf87

Deck the halls the eco-friendly way! Swap cut trees for potted ones that can brighten your yard all year. Don’t have a yard? Donate them or opt for a reusable artificial tree made from sustainable materials—your green choice for years to come! 

Get creative with organic decorations and compost them after the holidays for guilt-free glam. When lighting up your space, go for LED bulbs, the longer-lasting energy champs. Spruce up your old lights with funky finds like ribbons, buttons, and Grandma’s vintage baubles. Each decoration carries cherished memories, making your holiday decor not just eco-friendly, but heartwarming too!

Sustainable Table

Eco-friendly holiday table setting with cloth napkin, cloth-wrapped gift, and pine decorations.
Eco-friendly holiday table setting with cloth napkin, cloth-wrapped gift, and pine decorations.
iStockPhoto / JulieAlexK

Throwing an eco-friendly holiday bash? Embrace sustainable living by ditching disposables! Use your everyday plates, cutlery, and serving dishes, or go fancy with your china and silverware. After the party, gather your guests (late-night helpers welcome!) for a quick dishwasher load—zero waste to landfills! 

Invest in festive reusable linens and cloth napkins that impress. Short on reusable items? Opt for biodegradable plates—they're eco-friendly and conversation starters. Check out compostable options in various shapes and sizes, perfect for any design theme, especially the trendy “rustic” look!

Shop Local

Three women on farm holding boxes of vegetables.
Three women on farm holding boxes of vegetables.
iStockPhoto / DisobeyArt

Spice up the party sustainably! Skip the big supermarket shuffle and add the local farmer's market to your holiday to-do list. Discover the joy of cooking with seasonal, locally sourced goodies that burst with flavor. Bring your overnight guests with you and make it a fun outing to experience some local color!

Embrace the charm of "ugly" fruits and veggies – they might look quirky, but they make scrumptious pies and desserts! Let's turn those funny-shaped finds into culinary masterpieces and reduce food waste one delicious dish at a time!

Gift Exchange? Use Sustainable Gift Wrap

Holiday gifts wrapped in eco-friendly cloth and decorated with sustainable twine.
Holiday gifts wrapped in eco-friendly cloth and decorated with sustainable twine.
iStockPhoto / klenova

Say no to wasteful paper wraps and hello to reusable holiday bags. Get funky with non-paper options like scarves, dish towels, or bandanas—gifts within gifts! Spread the eco-joy by urging your guests to get creative too. Let's wrap it up sustainably and stylishly this season!

Eco-Friendly Overnight Guest Hosting

Cozy guest bedroom with lighted mirror, Christmas tree, and chopped wood.
Cozy guest bedroom with lighted mirror, Christmas tree, and chopped wood.
iStockPhoto / Natalia Bodrova

Embrace sustainability while hosting friends and family this holiday season. Make sure your guest room is cozy but energy-efficient, with LED lighting and cozy blankets for a warm welcome. Offer toiletries in refillable containers to reduce waste, and encourage guests to bring their own water bottles. 

Provide them with eco-friendly products like reusable shopping bags and sustainable travel gear. Think about their transportation too – carpooling or public transit is a greener choice than individual vehicles. Create a comfortable and eco-conscious environment for your overnight visitors.

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Eco-Friendly Products for Entertaining

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Eco-Friendly Compostable Bamboo Cutlery Set

$45.00

Elevate your to-go meals or events with a Holy City Straw Co. paper-wrapped natural bamboo cutlery set. This wrapped set includes a fork, knife, spoon, and napkin, and offers an attractive and sustainable plastic-free alternative for anyone wanting to minimize their carbon footprint.

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Sustainable Home Bar Starter Package

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Our premium bar starter package will add a touch of eco- class to any home bar. The package includes our premium bamboo bar caddy and an assortment of cocktail and tall wheat and reed stem drinking straws that will pair perfectly with any traditional or craft cocktail.

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Large Bamboo Charcuterie Board

$59.99

This one-of-a-kind charcuterie board with a flatware set makes serving and plating your delectable spread a breeze. The secret inset compartment makes storing serving utensils hassle-free. Use the 6 stainless-steel knives and 6 thin forks to entertain like a master hostess.

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Bamboo Fiber Salad Bowl and Prep Lid Set - Peach

$65.99

Introducing our Eco-Friendly Salad Bowl Set: Prepare, serve, and store your dishes sustainably! Crafted from 80% bamboo fiber and 20% food-safe bonding material, our set includes a bamboo wood lid, a white bamboo fiber bowl, and utensils. Embrace environmentally friendly living with our fast-renewable bamboo products.

Sustainable Holiday Decor

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Tabletop Haitian Metal Drum Angel

$60.00

Fulfilled by our friends at Global Crafts Wholesale This metal art holiday angel is 14 inches tall, making a great decorative piece. The angel is large enough to be back lite with a candle. Handmade from steel drums.
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Haitian Metal Blue Flower Wreath

$125.00

Fulfilled by our friends at Global Crafts Wholesale Crafted from recycled 55-gallon steel drums by village artisans in Haiti, these stunning pieces of art are truly one-of-a-kind! The process of turning sheets of metal into beautiful art is all done ...
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Snowman Face Wooden Christmas Ornament

$9.90

Get into the holiday spirit with these adorable Snowman Head Wooden Christmas Ornaments! Made from high-quality wood, these ornaments are lightweight and easy to hang on your Christmas tree.

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Carrot Nose Snowman Wooden Ornament

$9.90

Add some festive charm to your holiday decor with these adorable Carrot Nose Snowman Wooden Ornaments. These handmade ornaments are crafted from high-quality wood and feature a charming snowman design complete with a classic carrot nose.

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Christmas Bell Wooden Ornament

$9.90

Our Christmas Bell Wooden Christmas Ornaments are expertly crafted from lightweight wood, making them easy to hang on your tree or display on a wreath.

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Teddy Bear Wooden Ornament

$9.90

These adorable Teddy Bear Wooden Ornaments are made from high-quality wood, and are lightweight, hypoallergenic, and nickel-free, making them perfect for anyone with sensitive skin.

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Two Candles in Circle Wooden Christmas Ornament

$9.90

Featuring a beautiful design of two candles in a circle, these lightweight wooden ornaments are a great way to celebrate the spirit of the holiday season.

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Wooden Penguin Christmas Ornament

$9.90

Get into the holiday spirit with these adorable Penguin Wooden Christmas Ornaments! Made of high-quality wood, these lightweight ornaments are perfect for adding a touch of festive charm to your Christmas tree.

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Candy Cane Ornament Wooden Ornament

$9.90

Bring the sweetness of the season to your holiday decor with these Candy Cane Ornament Wooden Ornaments!

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Candy Cane Wooden Ornament

$9.90

With their vibrant red and white candy cane design, these Candy Cane Wooden Ornaments are sure to add a touch of holiday cheer to any room.

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3-Pack Paper Mache Star Ornaments

$38.00

These cheery papier mache ornaments are handmade in Haiti by artisans using recycled paper.

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3-Pack Paper Mache Ball Ornaments

$38.00

Lovingly hand-crafted, this ornament will brighten up your Christmas tree or can be used as a decoration on a doorknob, hook, or on a table

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2-Pack Paper Mache Snowman Ornaments

$40.00

These cheery papier mache ornaments are handmade in Haiti by artisans using recycled paper. Each ornament has a loop for hanging on a tree.

Environmentally Friendly Hosting

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Brush Strokes Ethically Crafted Cotton Throw

$69.00

Sustainably and ethically crafted in South Africa. These cotton-rich throws have a brushed cotton finish that creates a warm and natural feel. Awesome for a cozy night in front of the fire or watching your favorite show.