Posts Tagged ‘green baby shower’

Step 1 – The Invitations – portraying the green message

The invitations are the first step to the shower. These will show your intentions to throw a Green baby shower.  Here are some ideas.

1.     Our first and favorite option is the Evite.  Sending an e-invitation preserves the paper waste.

2.     Print your invitations on recycled card-stock.  You can find a variety of natural fibers such as banana, mango, palm, bamboo, cotton, recycled content or (our favorite) elephant dung.  No, it doesn’t smell and its supports a great cause.

3.     Make sure the invitations have the colors and text that reflect your theme.  For example: Using earth tones colors  “We are hosting a Green Baby Shower for Stacy to help preserve the planet for her little one.”

Step 2 – The Gifts –Wrapping the green way

The gifts are the second step to throwing a baby shower.  Usually,  this is where the largest amount of waste occurs;  gift-wrapping and packaging.  Here are some ideas to reduce waste.

1.     First, and the greenest option, recommend your baby shower guests skip the traditional gift-wrapping methods all together.

2.     Offer earth-friendly suggestions like old newspaper, magazines or brown grocery bags.  They could also recycle gift bags they already have.

3.     Use old shredded paper from junk mail that you receive as fillers for the gifts.

4.     Depending on the size of the shower, you could send earth friendly gift-wrap to the guests with the invite.

5.     Another idea is have the guests use an organic baby blanket or towel and tie it in a bow.

6.     For guests that purchase a lot of smaller items, using a laundry basket and wrapping the items in old newspaper, old magazines or something creative you already have around the home.

7.     It is common practice these days to say where the mommy is registered in the invite.  Have your registry selection reflect your desires.  Register with a company that offers green practices, recycles all there shipping boxes and tries to operate on a paperless operation.  Create a green baby registry. 

8.     Make sure your thank you notes are written on recycled content note cards.  Better yet, use an e-card service and some have video options available where you can show your guests a video of mama and the baby.

9.     Remember to always politely suggest, but never insist to your guests. 

Step 3 – The Shower –Keeping it Green

So the last and final stage is the actual shower.  Here is where you have more decision making power over keeping down the amount of waste and carbons that are created by the baby shower.  Here are some steps that may help.

1.     Consider purchasing carbon offsets or having a couple trees planted to offset the driving and carbons that are created during the shower.  Carbonfund.org, urbanforest.org, and treepeople.org are a couple recommendations.

2.     Shop at local farmers markets or farms for certified organic foods. At freshandgreen.com on the lower left page, you can find local produce.  If you have the meal catered, seek out one who serves organic foods.

3.     Please, please, please try to stay away from paper plates and napkins.   Make the day special by using some of your own fine dishes.  If disposables are completely necessary purchase biodegradable, compostable corn based products. 

4.     Decorate with potted plants and trees.  Glass bowls with fresh apples, lemons or limes always add some beautiful color to any event.

5.     Try to stay away from offering bottled water.  Have many water pitchers available for your guests. 

6.     Offer recycling bins at the shower for any items that may need to be recycled.

7.     Offer a compost area for the food waste at the end of the shower.

8.     Consider getting organic seeds or bulbs party favors for the guests.

9.     Depending upon the conditions outside open the windows and allow the fresh air to come in. 

10. Leave little environmental tip notes around the shower letting people know why you are doing the green shower.  For example tip:“1 ton of 50% postconsumer content copier paper saves 12 trees,” or  “cotton production accounts for 10% of the worlds pesticide and 25% of the worlds insecticide use.”

11. Throw some eco-friendly games, for example:

a.     Onesie painting: provide an organic white onesie or t-shirt and non-toxic paints or natural dyes and let the guests have fun decorating the shirts for the baby.

b.     Plant a seed or tree: if the expectant parents have a garden, have the guests plant a tree or seed in the babies honor.  Of course you will need to provide the gardening supplies, but everyone can work together and leave a positive impact on the planet.  Just make sure it is an indigenous plant for the area.

c.      Guess the baby game:  Instruct guests to bring a baby photo of them to the shower.  Place them all on a bulletin board or have magnets to place them on the fridge.  Have the guests try and match each baby photo to the guest it belongs too.  In the end, your guests can share a story of their childhood.

d.     Letter to baby: Set up a keepsake box and have guests write a letter to the baby.  Or if you want to have people get more creative, have them create their own cards for the baby and provide construction paper and art supplies.

e.     Decorate my bottle:  Guests can use their creativity for Decorate-My-Bottle activity. Purchase a BPA-Free, clear baby bottle and with the use of permanent markers they can use their imagination and create one of a kind baby bottles.

Step 4 – RELAX and have a good time

Last and most importantly, relax and have a great time.  You have done all that you can to make your shower as green as possible. Enjoy your friends and family knowing the few things you did made a difference, plus you may have inspired others to do more.