If you’re conscious about your carbon footprint you may be wondering how to make your holidays greener.

When it comes to New Year's Eve, having an eco-friendly party doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the fun! Whether you’re hosting a big NYE event or just keeping it simple with a few close family members or friends there’s a lot you can do. Keep reading to learn how to have a more sustainable New Year’s Eve without sacrificing the festivities.

Plan for a Low or Zero-Waste Party

Typically when throwing a party there’s a lot of trash involved. The EPA has reported that household waste increases over the holiday season by up to 25%. From disposable supplies and decor to uneaten food, there’s a lot that gets tossed. So get ahead of all that by thinking about how to make your party low-waste or even better, zero-waste.

Start with the invitations. Skip paper invites and go digital. Digital invitations are easy to design, send and receive – convenient for both you and your guests. Not to mention there is no environmental impact. It’s a total win-win! Both Evites and Paperless Post are easy options with beautiful invitations you can customize.

Think about making your event free of single-use plastics. Avoid paper or plastic plates, cups, napkins, and utensils. Go for real dishware, flatware, and linens instead. If you don’t have enough of those supplies on hand you could rent party equipment or go with biodegradable or recycled options.

Consider what you can reuse and repurpose. For decor, do you have things you can reuse from prior holidays? Instead of throwing away all of that holiday wrapping paper, think about what can be used to make fun sparkly decorations. If you buy new decor choose long-lasting reusable options, rather than the plastic streamers, confetti, and balloons that get thrown out the next day.

Go For Sustainable Food and Drinks

Did you know that over one-third of the food produced in the U.S. ends up in the trash?

Food waste has many environmental impacts including food insecurity and all the resources used to produce food (think of wastewater and CO2 emissions). Not to mention once food sits in the landfill it releases methane gas which is 25 times more harmful than carbon dioxide (EPA).

To reduce the food wasted at your NYE party plan your menu and the amount of food you buy carefully. You don’t want to send your guests home hungry but you also don’t want to throw away tons of food too – try to strike the right balance.

If you do end up with a lot of leftovers have your guests take home as much as possible. Be prepared with leftover containers they can take to go. And whatever leftovers you end up with that go uneaten, try composting.

Go an extra step and see if you can plan a sustainable meal. If your event is catered, look for caterers that specialize in local, seasonal, and sustainable cuisine. If you're preparing food and drinks yourself keep sustainability in mind. Vegan and vegetarian foods have a lower environmental impact so does organic food that’s been farmed locally. Avoid processed foods, not only are they not as good for you but they also take more resources to produce.

Skip the Fireworks

If you’re considering setting off fireworks at your home for NYE think again. They contain toxic or carcinogenic chemicals that impact air quality, get into the soil, and eventually reach our waterways (Forbes).

So, protect your local environment for the people around you, pets, and the local wildlife, and pass on fireworks this year. Here are a few eco-friendly alternatives to fireworks that are just as festive:

Create a light show with a projector
Get a fire going
Use eco-friendly glow sticks
Put fairy lights in mason jars

Opt For Sustainable Clothing Choices

The fashion industry has a ways to go toward becoming more eco-friendly. Fashion is responsible for 10% of greenhouse gas emissions and 20% of global wastewater while using more energy than the aviation and shipping sectors combined (Columbia Climate School).

Instead of buying a new outfit for your NYE event see what you can wear that you already own. If you don’t want to repeat a look think about how you can create new style combinations with pieces you have or borrow from friends.

Or if you’re set on buying something new to wear, shop vintage or try renting an outfit if you’ll only use it once. Rent The Runway, Nuuly, and Style Lend are all affordable and sustainable ways to rent designer clothing.

Be Mindful of Transportation

Last but not least, think about transport for the evening. Though it’s been well-documented how harmful cars are to the environment, it’s worth stating that the transport sector accounts for 27% of all emissions, and is the largest contributor to greenhouse gasses (EPA).

So encourage your guests to carpool or take public transport. Remember small changes added together can make a big impact!

While thinking about having a more eco-friendly NYE you may also be wondering about ways you can give back. Check out our post about nonprofits we love to support.

At AHG Interiors we wish you a safe and fun holiday season!

How to Throw a Sustainable NYE Party Without Minimizing the Fun