So your friend or family member got new digs, and they are ready to celebrate. It’s always tricky to know what to bring to these things. Housewarming parties usually imply some sort of gift (unless they explicitly say otherwise), but it would be nice to give a gift that doesn’t add to the home’s cluttering. They are just getting started there, how could they possibly want a bunch of clutter!?

For many of us, this also poses an environmental challenge. Most fruit baskets and the like come wrapped in plastic, and we don’t want to put money into something that is just going to land in a landfill. So what do you give them instead?

Here are my best ideas for gifts that will help the home start on a green foot. Bonus, they will likely be favorite gifts for a long, long time!

1. Hours of Help

Home ownership is kind of the worst. Everything is your problem, and if they have recently moved in, they probably have an overwhelming list of to do’s, just ready to bog down their weekends. You can make that to do list a little bit fun by offering to come help paint the bathrooms or stain the deck or plant that bush. It will be way more fun with your help.

If you live nearby, there is no better gift than a (fulfilled) promise to help with the upcoming projects that are just a part of moving into a new space. If you can trust them to take you up on it, offer painting help or help moving. Gift something edible with a little coupon good for 3 hours of help.

from 112JamesStreet

2. Cloth Napkins

Cloth Napkins are the easiest eco- friendly switch you can make, and once you get in the habit of using them, you will wonder why you EVER used paper ones. There are so many beautiful (but unfussy) ones, so this could make a really nice gift.

There are thousands of options for cloth napkins on Etsy, and you can read our post on our favorite stores for cloth napkins. You can find one for any style, and it can (and should!) be a gamechanger for anyone.

3. Toilet Paper

Feeling generous? Buy the family a big old box of bamboo toilet paper from Who Gives a Crap? and enjoy how weird you have made things. But you know that it will get used, that you have kept trees from coming down, and that you made zero plastic waste with that gift. And I bet they will never forget it!

4. A Tree or Plant

If someone is celebrating a new home with a yard, help them celebrate that space with a beautiful native plant or tree. It’s amazing for the environment (we now know one of the best chances we have against Climate Change is to simply plant an epic number of trees- no more weird empty grass lawns). It is also amazing for their home- it raises the value, keeps the house cooler, and even can help minimize depression in the household. Trees and plants are IMPORTANT. You get bonus points if you help plant it.

If they don’t have a yard, you can still gift a beautiful potted plant or (even tastier) a little herb garden. If you want a cool planter, check out these ones we found on Etsy. Plants are happiness, so you are basically gifting happiness here.

5. Cloth Grocery and Produce Bags

Many of us have cloth grocery bags, but maybe not as many as you think. You can give this gift in a number of eco-friendly ways. First, head to your local thrift shops and buy them four or five tote bags that would work for this purpose.

If you can't find them used, you can still get them new. For grocery and produce bags, I recommend keeping it simple; a cotton tote- you can get thousands of them (21,000 just on Etsy), so you can gift a sassy one or support one of their favorite businesses or organizations. These extra large ones make a lot of sense,

For produce bags, I absolutely love Colony Co Reusable Bags- once you try these, you will never want to go back to plastic. They are strong and weirdly pretty. We have been using the same bunch for a long time, and they really hold up.

6. Bamboo Toothbrushes

A little personal? Maybe. But toothbrushes create a pretty significant amount of plastic waste. It could be cute with a candy bar or a baked sweet treat.

Plastic toothbrushes put all sorts of nonsense chemicals in your mouth (and it isn't regulated particularly, so it is worth it to be wary), you have two better options- bamboo or Preserve's recycled foodsafe plastic toothbrushes.

One BIG tip- If you are trying to gift without plastic (GO YOU!), really look at the reviews of the bamboo toothbrush you choose. LOTS of people complain of buying a bamboo toothbrush only to have it arrive in plastic. If you shop somewhere mainstream like Amazon, you can find that information, so take the time to do so (but try a shop like The Refill Revolution or Tiny Yellow Bungalow instead- it takes hutspah to run a small business and even more to serve the Earth at the same time).

from Amazon

7. Dish Brushes and Dust Pans

If you want to get something that is practical, ethically-made, AND beautiful, it does not get much better than Redecker. They make dust pans and dish brushes suddenly seem like pretty precious objects. So it seems like a sweet gift while still being incredibly practical AND cutting down on plastic waste.

The other great thing about this brand is that they sell refills, so they can keep using the same brush for a long, long time. I love this gift idea so much.

8. Bar Soap

Bar soap is a simple gift that can perfectly fit their taste, support a local business, AND cuts down on plastic waste! Skip Bath and Bodyworks (the gift that says "I don't know you") and get your loved one something made nearby that smells amazing and saves the world. Bar soap beats liquid hands down, so your budding environmentalist might be all about the saved plastic. If you want something you can get online, Kiss my Face's olive oil soap (wrapped in paper) is my favorite face soap.

Bar soap yields over 100,000 finds on Etsy, so narrow it down by geography and see what is being made near you. Or ask at local shops and grocery stores. I would LOVE this gift, as I love trying new soaps.

9. Dryer Balls

Dryer Balls are a perfect gift- they will get tons of use, and they keep those dryer sheets out of the trash. I got these a few years ago as a Christmas gift and LOVED it. They have lasted for hundreds of loads, and they have to be one of the simplest switches away from wasteful living.

 You can see my list of dryer balls here. Don't want to poke around? Ok, buy these.

10. A Co-op Box or Local Goodies

So many places have farm subscription boxes or csa boxes now. Our small town we grew up in even has one. If you want to add a little bit of local flavor to their new home, the boxes can be really inspiring when there are new foods and resources to try! The more a diet hinges on plants instead of animals, the better it is for the environment, so you can help to shift that focus.

You can't go wrong with consumables, and the more local, the better. Think about what local treats are available and maybe you will get inspired too! If nothing comes to mind, you could always bring something you made.




Have a housewarming coming up? Try one of these awesome gifts! What are your favorite green gifts to give?

A new baby is coming and you are ready to celebrate! This fresh new little one is going to be surrounded with love, support, and endless hope for a beautiful future.

This party is the baby's first big welcome, and if you want to take care of their future, why not celebrate it with an eco-friendly theme? The survival of our environment will play a huge part in the future of this tiny little one. The UN reports that we only have 12 years to make dramatic changes to life on Earth before Climate Change's effect are unable to be stopped. These babies will still be in elementary school then. This isn't just their adulthood at stake- it's their childhood! So if we want them to have a happy one, it's time to change course on how we approach our lives.

Babies give us the perfect opportunity to reconsider our relationship with stuff. Babies use a lot of stuff, and the baby shower can be the beginning of a giant pile of junk and waste that comes with little ones. Instead of accepting this as "normal," you can pick a theme that minimizes waste (and actually gives the parent's the help they really need). Materialism is constantly and easily mistaken for love, but what parents actually need is your support (your time, validation, positivity, etc)- how can we make a shower more about that and less about the big pile of wrapping paper?

In other words, let's pick a baby shower theme that is better for the baby, better for the earth, and better for the parents. It seems like a tall order, especially when regular themes are stars or jungle or Winnie the Pooh. But it can be done! And it will be cute!

Before we get into the actual themes, let's talk about some universally green switches you can make at any shower:

-Start a Green Registry. Use our Eco-Friendly and Natural Registry to find earth-friendly options for everything on your list.

-Use Eco-Invites. The easiest way to do this is to opt out of paper invitations all together, and use an e-vite instead. If you think this will cause too much pearl clutching, you can get something simple (on recycled paper) from Artifact Uprising or Paper Culture.

- If Possible, Opt Outside. You will need fewer decorations, it will be more photogenic, and everyone will feel happier. A backyard or park is a perfectly gorgeous (and free) alternative to most banquet halls and party spaces.

- Avoid Making Trash. Use reusable plates, silverware, and napkins. If that isn't an option, you can still find greener (and prettier!) options than the disposable plates and cups we are used to. Check out our party supply blog for everything you need.

- Make Secondhand Your First Choice. Babies get so much stuff, but other than the car seat and crib, you really don't need it to be new. You can get the word to guests that you would prefer secondhand stuff through word of mouth or on the invitation (check out our post on how to ask for secondhand stuff on your invitation).

-Serve Less Meat. The production of animal products comes at a huge environmental cost, but that also means one of the easiest steps we all can take is simply eat less meat. So one of the easiest ways to throw a green shower? Serve less meat. Maybe none if you can pull it off!

-Discourage Wrapping Paper. It's a huge waste! Do bags (which can be reused) or just don't wrap at all! We will talk more about this later.

- Play Greener Games. I would never suggest you don't play games! Who doesn't love that awkward fun? But some of the games create a lot of waste (looking at you, creepy diaper candy bar game). While you are picking games, try to choose things that are fun AND low waste!

Plan a Shower These New Parents will Remember

These days, many people end up having more than one shower, and they end up with WAY more stuff than they need. If you know yours isn't the only shower (or even if it is), consider how you can take better care of that baby's future, and it likely will include a turn away from so much stuff.

Ok, now if you want to plan an eco-friendly shower to the next level, here are some ways to organize it.

1. A Hand Me Down Shower

About five minutes into parenthood, you realize you could have gotten all this stuff secondhand (and often from friends and family members). Baby stuff has such a short life- a baby swing is an absolute lifesaver... and then three months later you are totally done with it. Nearly everything we have bought in our last 4 years of parenting was secondhand (Easter outfits, toys, shoes... seriously everything). Secondhand just makes more sense with tiny kids.

So can you imagine how nice it would be to have a secondhand shower? I especially love the idea of a hand me down shower, because it can be hard to part with things from when your kids are babies, but just knowing it will go to another baby that the gifter will love opens that flood gate. You can ask for secondhand stuff (you can see ideas on how to do it here), but you could even call the shower a "hand me down" shower on the invitation to signal that those who had children can really just bring things from their own collection.

Even a few years ago, giving something secondhand had a stigma around it, but it doesn't have to anymore. Embrace the theme (maybe pick a quilt motif for all your invites and such?).

The Good it Does For the Family- You can get one sleeper for 30 dollars. Or for the same amount of money, you can get 5 secondhand. And no matter where you buy it, that thing is getting pooped on. So you can help the new parents check off everything on their list by creating a vibe where secondhand stuff is welcome. You can check off everything on their list.

Also, I think handing off baby stuff between parents can be a powerful gesture, and those objects have so much meaning in them. It feels more special.

The Good it Does for the Earth- Everything that lands in the new parents' home won't be in the landfill. We need to embrace an economy of reuse EVERYWHERE in our lives, because too much stuff is already out there. Also, new stuff travels in those little plastic envelopes you get when you order clothes online. Secondhand gifting minimizes plastic and fossil fuel waste, meaning a cleaner world for that sweet baby.

Cute Details for Pulling it Off-

-Maybe tell a little story in the invitation about a hand me down the new parents had as kids that they adored.

- Choose a fun motif that speaks to family for decorating- a hope chest, quilts, or a vintage teddy bear. Set the scene in a beautiful way.

- Ask your guests to bring pictures of themselves and their babies as babies to decorate the whole party. Frame the new baby as the newest chain in a long history of love and family.

2. A Post-Partum Party

Instead of hosting a party before the baby comes, schedule something for a month after the due date. Plan a (small) gathering of friends to help the new parents get ahead. Bring freezer meals, clean and do laundry, and even just give the parents a chance to take a nap! Planning it a little later gives the new parents something to look forward to and help when they most need it.

Because when you are in the thick of that transition, no number of cutesy baby items will help. This party reinstates the cultural traditions where your village takes care of you in this season.

The Good it Does for the Family- Somewhere in the last few generations, we have mistaken consumerism for actual support. Just buying someone something is a reasonable stand in for showing up for them. It's not, and nowhere is this more clear than with a new baby. The sleeper may be adorable, but it can't help a sleep-deprived new parent get some actual rest. They don't need stuff, they need you. They need your support, your validation this is hard, and your love when they barely recognize themselves.

Spoiler alert: the need for a support system won't end! So establishing a village(and infusing that village with joy) is the absolute, unbeatable gift.

The Good it Does for the Earth- Overconsumerism defines the moment we live in, and it is terrible for the environment. If you buy a baby gift in the store, it has already created a lot of waste in packaging and shipping materials. It has also used tons of fossil fuels being shipped from the country it was made in (exacerbating Climate Change). Experience and service gifts don't create any of that waste.

Fun Details to Pull it Off- First, make sure to check with their parents that they are ok with this. Second, make sure all participants have their vaccinations.

- Send an invite online, and tie it into a sign up genius, so you can show up on the day with a plan.

- Plan it as a breakfast or lunch, so people are long gone when bedtime rolls around.

3. A "Growing" Baby Shower

This is perhaps the most mainstream of the shower themes. Decorate and plan all around a "growing" motif- serve a vegetarian menu, give away plants or seeds as the gifts, and ask for gifts to grow into in the invitation. Use this theme as a way to breezily mention that this earthy baby could use "earthy" gifts- this way you can ask for secondhand and natural gifts.

You could go about this with another goal as well- don't get SOOO much for the baby in those first few months. Anyone who has had a baby will tell you (especially if they have a girl) that they had so much clothes for the first 6 months that they didn't even wear it all once. Split up the gifts by age (0-6 months), (6-12 months), and (12-18 months). This will cut down on waste and lots of gifts that can't even be used.

The Good it Does For the Family- In those first few months, the baby doesn't actually need much! By spreading the gifts by age, the parents might get a more even spread of gifts that will help them financially for a longer time. Plus, the stress on naturalness means greener gifts with fewer chemicals coming into their home!

The Good it Does for the Earth- Too much stuff is never good for the planet, wasting materials and resources. Also, stressing natural baby gifts means that fewer chemicals are being used for manufacturing.

Cute Details for Pulling it Off

-Make potted plants and herbs the centerpieces. Give them away as the favors.

- Have the shower outside! Maybe in a garden or another green space.

- Have the big gift be a CSA box subscription for the parents. It can be nice to have an excuse to eat healthy food in that first year!

4. An Unwrapped Shower

Wrapping paper is a huge source of waste at parties like these. We have all seen those bags full of paper! You can easily cut all of that out by doing an "unwrapped shower." Each guest brings their gift unwrapped and sets it out on the table. Everyone can still see the cute stuff the baby got, but there doesn't have to be a "gift opening" portion of the party (thank goodness; that nonsense is boring).

This is great for everyone, but it is especially perfect for shy parents who may not want to be the center of attention. If someone wants to make sure they see the parents' receiving their gift, they can walk them over during the party and tell them all about it.

As a side note, you could use this idea for any shower theme. Simply ask that the guests bring their gifts unwrapped on the invitation.

The Good it does for the Family- Really, for a shy parent, casual parents, parents traveling a long distance for their party (just bring a picture and send the gift to their home), or parents who just want a different kind of party, this frees you up from the "main event" of most of these types of parties. And let's just mention one more time that watching someone awkwardly open presents and try to be the same level of excited for each one is mind-numbingly boring. So the big benefit here is that you could have more fun or eat more cake instead.

The Good it does for the Earth- All of that wrapping paper adds up, and it is terrible for the Earth. Will skipping it single-handedly save the Earth? No, but it will do some good. And all these little but positive steps add up.



How did you throw an eco-friendly baby shower? Did you ask for secondhand gifts for your baby? How did you pull it off?

I love parties. I think there might be a conception that a truly green life is so simple and pared down that there isn't much room for celebration, but I think celebrating is an essential part of living. We have no control over the negative things that will happen in our lives- hearts will break, people will die, struggles will happen. We have to go through the challenges and emotions of those times, so the only way to maintain balance in our life is to spend just as much energy on the good times as the bad.

Our celebrations are powerful forces in our life, building our communities, showing our gratitude, and feeding our positivity.

That said, they can create a lot of waste.

If you check the "party supply" aisle of many stores, what you see is disposable items, meant to only be used once, wrapped in plastic that will outlive us all. Yes, that silly plastic film on your Frozen plates will outlive you, all the while polluting our Earth and waters. Doesn't quite seem worth it right?

When we are serving a big party, it makes sense to do the cheapest and easiest thing. We have so much on our plates already, who wants to sign up for tons of dishes on top of everything else?!?

Well, if we want to have a positive impact on the world, it might be our best option. Choosing reusable options can help stop a lot of waste for plates, napkins, cups, and more. If you have a party with 40 people, those three items add up to 120 more pieces of plastic into our eco-system. Definitely not something to celebrate!

If you splurge a little on compostable and recycled goods for even half of these items, your party will have a significantly more positive impact on the world. If you use what you own first, you can do even more good. 

If you want to do a little, just don't buy any plastic. No plastic plates, straws, or cups (or balloons! Check out other cheap and awesome options here). They are incredibly wasteful, dangerous to wildlife, and will outlive our grandchildren. Plastic is a problem, never a real solution. Plus, you are spending all this money, and plastic always looks trashy, because it is in fact trash. 

As a side note, LOOK AROUND and see where you can buy what you want in bulk. If you buy your plates 25 at a time, you will be wasting money. Track those bigger sets down on websites like Eco Party or Webstaurant Store. You will have more parties, so where you can't just be reusable, bulk is your next best bet.

Many of these links may be affiliate links, but I highly recommend looking secondhand and at locally-owned businesses first. 

Ok, party time! Let's look at supplies.

Plates

Americans throw out a trillion disposable plates A YEAR. Can you even imagine a trillion? If your party is small enough to use your regular plates, do that. Help shrink that number.

At the very least, we can make the ones we add compostable, so they will break down.

Whatever you need to do is what you need to do, but I think you can find something fun and eco-friendly all at once. Yes, you can get a plastic plate in exactly your colors (or with the paw patrol's puppy mugs on it), but how many plastic plates does that send straight to a landfill? Kind of a bummer, and you might be able to find something just as cost-effective while being much more eco-friendly.

No one has ever gone to a party and been wowed by the perfectly matching plates. Do white. You can use them later for other parties. If you have a theme, nail it with the food instead of the plates they sit on. People remember the food, because food.

The Zero Waste Option- Just use your regular plates! If the party isn't too big, you probably have enough. If you tend to host larger parties, I have read about buying sets of Corelle at Goodwill to use as "party plates" so that might be an option as well if your regular set runs short.

from Susty Party

Our Pick- I think if you are going for something grown up and flexible it doesn't get much better than the Susty Party square plates.  Susty sells circular and dessert plates as well, and I just think this company is a great resource for compostable party supplies no matter what your style.

Leafware from Amazon

If you like a more natural look, I love these Leafware plates (compostable, not recyclable) and made out of palm leaves. They are very sturdy and look gorgeous and modern. Plus, they will decompose, so they create no waste. Win! If they don't quite fit your style, check Thynk and CiboWares as well.

Other Options- Check bamboo options, like these plates from Bambu! Find an aesthetic that works for your style. If you want something even more low key, try these plates from Earth's Natural- still completely biodegradable and only 18 cents a plate!

Cups

Susty Party from Amazon

The Zero Waste Option- We bought a restaurant set of glass cups from Anchor Hocking (cheaper and unbreakable). We bring the second half out for parties, but with all those cups, beer bottles, and wine glasses, we have never not had enough cups. We throw a lot of parties, and these cups have never broken. If you have your parties at home, this works perfectly (and look, only 38 bucks. In a lifetime, that will save you tons of money).

For kids, we use our kids cups. When those get to small, we will just give them these ones. Seriously, so many parties, no breaks.

Our Pick- I tried to find disposable cups that don't advertise themselves too much, not because there is anything wrong with being environmentally-psyched, but it doesn't always look that pretty. Susty Party sells both clear compostable cups and even more environmentally-friendly paper cups, so they may be the big winner in this category.

Other Options- There are tons of other options, and some like Zilchables are even made in the USA. They all have branding on them, which is a pain in the butt, but if you are less fussy than me and don't care, you can find a great deal and a huge eco-friendly win- Eco-Products, Stalkmarket, World Centric, and Repurpose.

Make sure to to poke around and find the bulk option- great way to save some money!

Straws

Tranquilo from Amazon

Who doesn't love a straw in their cocktail? If you want to add this little extra or step up your decor, paper straws are cute and compostable.

The Zero Waste Option- Just skip them. If you have kids coming and you want something for them, you could do reusable straws like glass or silicone.

Our Pick- Tranquilo straws are made from paper, in the US, and money goes to Ocean Clean Up projects. Their stated goal as a company is to eliminate the "needless consumption of disposable plastic products." As you can probably guess, this company is one of my absolute favorites. If you are buying straws for anything, buy these ones. The options on Amazon are limited, but you can find more on Tranquilo's website.

Other Options- Any paper straws are a thousand times better (and classier) than any plastic straw. You do more good if you find ones that haven't traveled far (so maybe not Kikkerland- at least try their subset Green Party Straws that biodegrade). I really love Aardvark straws because they have lots of colors, biodegrade, and are made in the USA.

Still can't find the perfect straw? Hello, Etsy. "Paper Straws" and the USA filter gets you 16,000+ options. Some of my favorites- Puppy Cat Crafts (every color or pattern you could possibly want), Cherished Blessings (super affordable if you can find your color), The Papered Table (great options all around) and The Party Gnome (crazy patterns, but that might be fun). You can probably get all you would need for 10-20 dollars, and it is so much cuter than anything in the regular "party supply" aisle.

Silverware

Brichware from Amazon

Ugh, plastic silverware is the worst, right? What a waste to use a piece of plastic once and then send it off to the landfill. You still have better options than horrible plastic- even recycled plastic isn't great if you are just going to toss them. We will never go back to this- it just doesn't make sense. The wooden and biodegradable stuff looks and feels better too, and the price difference isn't too significant when you buy in bulk.

The Zero Waste Option- Use your regular silverware. If you don't have enough, Thrift shops often have sections of used ones in big bags. So easy to find secondhand, probably for cheaper than anything disposable you could buy used.

Our Pick- Wooden Cutlery. They really do look beautiful, and I think they could work with any party. I couldn't find a specifically "Made in America" brand, so let's do the best we can. My favorite might be these Birchware wood cutlery- they have clean modernist ones and more elegant choices, so I think it could be great for so many weddings. I also think buying the pieces separately makes sense since you need way more forks than spoons for most menus.

You have more options, some of which cost less, so look around and find the wood (and biodegradable) options that work for you- HUJI Disposable (super cost-effective), Perfect Stix (also well-priced and great reviews), Creative Juice Cafe, and Pretty Sweet Party.

Other Options- Bioplastic. You can get plastic made from plants that still biodegrades I don't think it is nearly as attractive, but you can save money and it won't poison the world! Repurpose has a line of biodegradable silverware and you can get everything you possibly need (maybe for your whole marriage). I love that they are out to replace all those disposables that hurt your wedding's carbon footprint. Transitions 2 Earth has some to look out as well- they are made in China and biodegrade over 5 to 20 years. So mixed bag, but still an improvement on plastic.

Napkins

from oh little rabbit

What evil genius convinced people that napkins are legitimate party decor? False! They are garbage! If you are planning something fancy, skip the cheesy monogram. If you are planning for a kid, skip the characters' faces. Take a second and think about it- why is your shmutz rag worth extra money? What is the last party napkin you can remember? Invest somewhere else and buy something simple and ethical.

The Zero Waste Options- Cloth napkins. We have them for our everyday, but we don't have enough for parties. You could get a large set like these or find a special set from an Etsy store like Creekside Kid, ohlittlerabbit, 112JamesStreet, and JAQStudio.

Our Pick- We use cloth napkins for our everyday use and simple recycled paper napkins for parties. We bought one giant pack and just bring a handfull out for every party. Every time something

My loyalty remains with Seventh Generation for eco-friendly paper goods, and you can get 100% recycled lunch napkins (in white or kraft) at low prices. They don't sell cocktail napkins, so for that, I would recommend Hoffmaster kraft napkins which are 100% recycled and made in the US.

Susty Party from Amazon

Other Options- Susty Party sells some cocktail napkins with great-looking designs (you can find them here too).If you want something plain white, Tree Free cocktail napkins are made of bagasse (sugar cane) instead of tree products. They also donate proceeds to the Arbor Day foundation!

You can do this! This simple switch to how you approach events could keep hundreds or even thousands of pieces of waste out of landfills and purge your life of that much more plastic. All while you are having a good time with friends. That is powerful!



Want more ideas on how to live a green life and have green celebrations? I have TONS of them! Check them out here.

You are getting married! Congratulations! As you are embarking on your new future together, you may be noticing that a lot of the talk about the future is extremely grim- plastic is choking our oceans, fossil fuels are warming our planet, Scott Pruitt is building more soundproof phone booths. It might be tempting to just block all of this noise out, because you want to be happy! This is a happy time!

I agree, it is! And what makes it even happier is that you have power to help your future with how you handle your wedding. The planet is in trouble, and you as a couple have a bunch of power to help, from skipping plastic silverware to completely greening your registry.

All of this might sound like a lot of work, but I am here to help. Check the blog, I have tons of ideas, and I even did your whole registry for you.

If you want to add some green elements to your wedding registry, these are the most green options you can quickly add to make a huge difference in your life and on the planet. Check them out (and add them on).

Links may be affiliate links to Etsy or Amazon. I highly recommend you don't buy things from Amazon when you can help it, but try to put your money into local businesses instead. No seriously. 

Let's do this!

1. A Honeyfund

Yes, your grandma will absolutely hate it. But you will be just as married.

The absolute greenest thing you can do with your registry is STOP once you have picked the things you need. Don't get more filler you don't want. If what you really need is nothing, why not be honest and ask for help with the honeymoon instead?

I have been with my husband for 15 years, and it isn't because of any possessions. Everything good about our marriage comes from years of jokes, shared experiences, adventures, and memories. If your guests can help you invest in that collection instead of a collection of silverware, that seems like a beautiful way to start a marriage. Register for what you need, of course, but just stop once that need is met and ask your guests to invest in a huge memory instead.

So this is my best, biggest piece of advice. Don't register for stuff just to do it. Once you have what you need, be done.

2. Cloth Napkins

Old fashioned? Yes. Fancypants? Not so much. Of course you can get ones for when company comes over, but the real trick is to have a collection you use for all those everyday meals you are going to enjoy just you. If you are married for 50 years and eat in 300 days a year, the two of you will use 30,000 paper napkins in the course of your marriage. Just the two of you.

Instead, 4-8 cloth napkins you get now could last you a decade (and then graduate to cleaning rags). Such a simple addition that can do so much good! Pick ones that are 100% cotton, avoid synthetic fibers, and you can't go wrong.

My favorites are from Clear Sky Home and Oh Little Rabbit. A new favorite might be Cute Bright Things. From Amazon, Cotton Craft sells simple cotton napkins that could perfectly get you started.

3. Dryer Balls

Dryer Sheets are another one time use item that is basically instant garbage. They are also often covered in chemicals (read the box), and those chemicals (some potential carcinogens) get all over your clothes and you. It comes at a high environmental price, so get dryer balls instead, because they will last a thousand trips to the dryer and save so much waste. One of the easiest switches we made, and it would be a perfect low cost item for a registry.

(Yes, hang drying is so much more eco-friendly than using the dryer. I get that it doesn't always make sense for life, but if you can get away with some hang-drying, DO IT! Need a cord? Try Great White, Xcords, or use American-made Paracord.)

You can find these dryer balls all over the place. Here are a few of my favorites- A Little Green Bee, Wonderful Wool Balls , Ovella, and LooHoo.

4. Salt and Pepper Shakers

I grew up with those little McCormick plastic bottles, but you can go through a LOT of those in a marriage. I mean, if you have a salty palette, that will add up fast!

Instead, register for a salt and pepper grinder (and buy your salt and pepper in bulk). It will cut out some plastic waste and just sets another little green habit. We use Fletchers' Mill grinders, which come in lots of designs and materials, and are made right here in the US. You can also try William Bounds and Chef Specialties.

5. A Water Pitcher or Filter

Don't be that couple with a huge pack of disposable water bottles. Just. Stop. We know for a fact that a lot of those bottles are just filled with tapwater, and they are creating so much plastic waste all over the world. Buy yourselves reusable bottles you love (we are all about ,Lifefactory, Liberty Bottleworks and even this Nalgene) and register for a water pitcher.

People probably don't often register for a Brita pitcher, but it is actually a great choice for the environment. Even better? More eco-concious choices come on the scene every year. My favorite is the SOMA pitcher because it is made of glass with a plant-based filter. And in the US! No, you may not have heard of it before, but I promise it is worth it. Other options? Aquagear and a Maeva pitcher.
You could also go with a water filtration system for your space. Check out the  APEC system or an iSpring system.

6. Soap Dishes

Millenials tend to dislike bar soap, but we shouldn't. They can cut down on massive plastic waste, save us money, and there are about a million great options for it. You can start with these-  Dr. Bronner's, Burt's Bee's, Cetaphil,  Badger Organic Bar Soap, L'Occitane Shea Butter Extra Gentle Soap, Paul Mitchell Body Bar, Aveda Rosemary Bath Bar, LUSH soaps but check Etsy and what is local too!

So, if you want to register for soap dishes or trays, it's a great way to keep down this path (though you can often find soap dishes in thrift stores super cheap as well). Check these from BellaTerraCeramics, TheBubbleBakerySoaps, MeganLouiseCeramics, and  Aspen Kay,

7. Gardening Tools

Plan for a marriage that just keeps growing. Yeah, metaphorically speaking. But also, grow stuff.

Want to appreciate your food more? Grow some of it. Want to build a life together? Start with things you nurture, not things you purchase.

You may not have the space for an all out veggie garden. That's fine! Register for planters and keep plants in your space. It is well proven that plants in indoor spaces increases happiness and prevents depression. Perfect- the more happy in your marriage, the better! You could also grow herbs in your kitchen together, because the more basil in your marriage, the better!

Other gardening tools you could add to your registry? Shovels, Trowels, or even buckets (though they are SO easy to find free- ours is a fondant bucket from a bakery).

8. Unsponges, Dish Rags, and Dish Sponges

Those Scotch Brite sponges we all use create a lot of waste, especially when you consider you are supposed to throw them out pretty often to avoid the growth of bacteria. Instead, we use unsponges, which we run through the washer and dryer and they can last so much longer. These small items could be perfect for the lower pricepoints, and they will last. Definitely longer than a regular sponge, hopefully shorter than your marriage.

So many options here, including dish rag and dish sponges as well. I LOVE the unsponges from marley'smonsters, but etsy has tons of options so something will fit your dish-doing style: TheLittleWanderersCo, UpcycledCreationsCAD, and Huggable Earth.

You can also try Full Circle, Rubbits, scrubbers out of bamboo and loofah, Peachy Clean sillicon scrubber. Check Redecker and Full Circle as well.

9. Unpaper Towels

Paper towels have the same problem as so many other paper goods- your spills may not be totally worth cutting a tree down. An average American will use 700 pounds of paper goods (paper towels, napkins, tissues, etc) a year. You can cut so much of this out by just using reusable unpaper towels instead. We still have paper towels, but we use unpaper towels for 80-90% of the jobs.

Here are some good ones: Marley'sMonsters , fandcsewing, ThisJoyfulHomeetc, generationMe, TheEcotopia, and CreeksideKid. If you don't want snaps or fuss, these ones from Juniperseed would be perfect.

10. Compost Bin

The least romantic and most environmentally awesome registry item EVER. A banana in compost will break down in 9 days. It may never decompose in a trash bag filled with plastic. Think of how much extra waste there is in this world because our green waste isn't give the air it needs to become useful again. That feels tragic to me. Also, totally preventable.

Composting seems super complicated, but it is practically effortless once you establish it as a habit. You just need something to hold your green waste inside (we use this one from Natural Home) and a composter outside. Tons of options to check out for this, all of which are the height of sexiness and romance:

- Good Ideas' compost bin is 90+ post-industrial plastic.

- Yimby is based out of Canada and makes a spinny version out of recycled plastic.

- Forest City Models has a dual batch composter, so you can test different combinations at once.

- This Spinbin looks like the most fun (and space efficient).

- Mantis also sells a pretty wide variety of compost bins, so you can find one that fits your needs.

- Nature's Footprint sells shelf versions, but I can't recommend it, because I don't understand how they work (worms? Something with worms. I know it sounds gross, but if you have a yard, you already have worms too).

Are you feeling totally overwhelmed with the romance of marriage? I understand, it doesn't get much more Nora Roberts than a composter. That said, these simple additions to your registry are not only awesome tools for your home, but they help you protect the many, many years you have coming. That is pretty powerful stuff! Happy wedding and happy registering! 

Want an environmentally responsible registry? Be sure to read The Eco- Friendly Wedding Registry.

Want more Green Wedding goodness? We have SO MANY ideas here of how to make your special day kinder to the environment and that much more original. Check out the Green Wedding Page for more ideas.

Oh balloons. So fun. So cheery. So beloved by everyone.

Well, friends, today is the day I officially ruin everything fun, because balloons are really kind of the worst.

Why would I come for these cheery birthday staples? And what about when you need to mark a sign? Or have a balloon memorial? Why would I come for the clowns?

ok, the clown one is obvious.

Balloons are (yes, you guessed it) absolutely terrible for the environment. Just awful. I love a party and some spirited decoration as much as anyone, but balloons need to go. Here's why-

They are already having a profoundly negative effect on wildlife. Balloon releases are especially harmful, but balloons can be mistaken for food or animals can get tangled in the strings. And sky lanterns aren't a great alternative- they can have similar problems and also set basically anything on fire since you have no idea where they will land.

Helium is also an issue here, because it is a finite resource. I love  good squeaky voice as much as the next person, but we are huffing up a resource that we will run out of.

Even worse, balloons are adding to our ever-growing toxic mass of garbage. They are generally single use, come wrapped in plastic, then head straight to the garbage. So just a bunch of insta trash briefly used to make things look festive. It will spend one day as decoration and hundreds of years as toxic garbage. Not great.

Want more information about why balloons are the worst? Check out Balloons Blow.

You throw a party to celebrate life. If you are a parent, you throw them a party because you want your kid to have a happy life. Balloons may seem like a cheery, easy part of this, but shrinking biodiversity and plastic-polluted waters are going to make their life so much worse, not better. "Cheap, easy, and right now" are the enemies of doing longterm good. I actually think this is wisdom for life- fast food might be cheap, easy, and right now, but enough of it in the longterm and you will be absolutely miserable. The way we act as consumers is exactly the same- throwing a couple of balloons up may be the cheapest and easiest way to decorate your party, but you will do a lot more good for the future if you celebrate another way.

So you are throwing a party and still want to decorate? I'm with you! I love a good party theme, and I love decorations even more. Here are five fun, bright decorations to try that are plastic-free and kinder to the environment.

1. Tissue Paper

from Felt Magnet

You can do so much with Tissue Paper, which is paper so it biodegrades. Also, you can buy this tissue paper that is made of recycled materials. I am a big fan of the tissue paper puff or flower, which you can make with a pipe cleaner and a few sheets and you still get the bright round pop of color.



You can make big puffs that really mimic balloons, or you can make small ones and turn it into a garland. You can make it a

If tissue paper flowers aren't your thing (or don't fit your party), you can find cool tissue paper garland DIY's as well.

2. Crepe Paper

from Rebecka Lynn

This seems like a sad material, like kind of tired out and old-fashioned, and you can't do that much that packs a lot of visual punch. But come on- look at these crepe paper chandeliers! These are so freaking cool and I am totally using this idea someday (this link also has a cool version using ribbon instead). The downside is that I can't find any recycled crepe paper, but they still won't be found in the belly of a dead whale.

These changed my mind, but I have seen all sorts of cool ideas in crepe paper- I love this rainbow and this crepe paper ceiling too. A Girl and A Glue Gun has a pretty great round up of crepe paper ideas.

3. Paper Chains

from Felt Magnet

These seem fun and vintage to me. In the same spirit as balloons, but less cheesy and boring. Plus, they are so easy to make- bright, fun, and easy. You could use recycled construction paper, use up things just sitting around in your house, or even buy it used at a secondhand store. You can make a lot of these quickly with a pretty dramatic effect. Case and point-

from Pinterest. Perhaps too much?

Looking for something more original? Check out this rainbow paper fan garland, which is super bright and fun.

4. Bunting and Banners

from youngheartslove

With a little bit of creativity and humor, you can make a banner of almost anything. This might be a fun way to bring in your theme, and you could do a few little ones to fill blank space on the wall. These are two of my most recent ones- the trolleys were for a Daniel Tiger party, and the other was for a Harry Potter party.


They are both just cut out of construction paper I already had, tied together with string I already had, and cost me a whopping 0 dollars. They also only took an hour or two to make (while watching TV). You can find banner ideas for almost any theme you can imagine, but here is some inspiration- legos, cacti,  tassels, and yarn poofs.

from Home Life

Another option would be to make bunting with bright colors but no particular theme that you can use over and over again through the years. It means you put the work in once, and you can keep reusing it so that you are saving money and time. I love this one from Home Life. And we reuse Christmas, Hanakkuh, and other holiday decorations- why not birthday ones?

5. Rag Garland

from modelbehaviors

This is the one I am trying right now for the Bear's first birthday party. I bought the used fabric scraps at a secondhand art supply store. It cost me less than 5 dollars for a huge garland. You could also ask around to family members who quilt or sew (they probably have pieces they keep just in case) or even ask on Buy Nothing. I bet you would get all sorts of fabrics! Definitely an opportunity to spin some garbage into gold. You could also reuse these again and again (and they don't take actual sewing skills).

I am using this DIY tutorial from modelbehaviors. So simple and I think it will turn out great!

I love so many of these and can't wait to try them myself!

What about the balloon release? 

So, the rest of these ideas pretty well cover the chipper party, but I know that balloon releases have become a very popular way to remember loved ones. Throwing a tissue paper puff won't have the same impact as releasing a balloon. Honestly, I get why these might seem moving, like you are sending a gift off to heaven for your missing loved one.

But we know those balloons come down somewhere. And when they do, they make a little more mess in an already messy world. It almost becomes a practice of "out of sight, out of mind"- if we can't see the mess it's not our problem. That's no way to remember someone.

My advice, forever and ever, to do instead? Plant a tree. Plant 10 trees. Come back every year to your spot to remember until you have a forest in their honor. I think it is a beautiful way to remember and see time pass. It makes the world here a little bit better in their honor. I know for myself, I would like the world to be even the teeniest tiniest bit better because I have been here. I think it's incredibly moving to imagine even just your memory could do some good. Find a spot that needs the love, and plant something beautiful. I promise your loved one will feel it just the same.





So, balloons. This is the end of the road for us. Yes, we have had good times, but thing started going south a while ago, and we are just done now. I encourage you in joining me in just skipping this rather nasty tradition, and we can all come up with our own decorations instead. Leave balloons to those creepy clowns.