Green Guide for House parties
source : blissinateacup.blogspot.com
Inviting family and friends for a potluck or KTV session at home is becoming a favourite recreational activity. EnviroVibes has put together a handy guide to help you make smarter and greener decisions for your get-together parties.
1. Local and natural feasts
Choosing locally grown produce means cutting down on air transportation, hence reducing your carbon footprint.
Here are a few places where you can purchase fresh produce in Singapore.
2. Go electronic instead of print
Send online party invitations to friends and family and cut down on paper wastage. There are several sites, where you can get beautiful designs for free, some of which come fully equipped with interactive flash elements and music accompaniment.
If you insist on giving away a handwritten card, create homemade cards from recycled paper.
3. Buy second hand party favours/ gifts
Instead of contributing to the increasing landfills with shiny new purchases this year, source for second hand gifts! The Salvation Army is a great place to start. Knick-knacks simply require a quick clean up and they will be as good as new.
These are some Flea Markets in Singapore you could try out:
- China Square Central
Event: Weekend Flea Market
Date: Every Sunday Time: 11am - 6pm
Venue: China Square Central, Level 1 & 2 (18 Cross Street, Singapore 048423)
- Tanglin Mall
Event: 2nd Hand Fashion Bazaar
Date: Every 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month Time: 3pm - 11pm
Venue: Tanglin Mall (163 Tanglin Road, Singapore 247933)
If you have a gift item that is of no use to you, don't be afraid to "re-gift" it. Most importantly just ensure you do not offend the original giver by sending it back to them.
4. Spend some time in the kitchen
Bake or cook something to minimise waste and use of natural resources. Homemade treats are just the thing needed to put a smile on the faces of your loved ones and to fill their tummies with joy.
Visit these sites to get your hands on delicious recipes fit for the festive get-together parties.
5. Alternative to paper
There are several ways to reduce paper usage by being creative. Other than using wrapping paper to dress up gifts or using plastic streamers to decorate your home, go for recycled options.
This will include brown paper bags, newspapers and even your childrens' artwork.
6. Decor
Reduce your electricity usage and create a lovely ambience by having candles lit around the house. Choose beeswax or soy candles rather than petroleum-based paraffin candles, which release poisonous gases.
Adorn your home with organic plants, which will help to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the air and give out oxygen.
7. Clean up green
Before you discard anything, double check to see if they are reusable. If you can't reuse them, ensure that paper, glass and plastic products get thrown into the recycle bin. This will help to preserve natural resources, cut down on junk piling up in landfills and reduce the amount of energy used in the manufacturing of new products.
Reusable cloth is also ideal cleaning option, but if you insist on using paper towels, you can get recycled products from:
Use biodegradable trash bags, which you can get from: