The Eco-friendly Party By Jess Schmidt

PAPER PLATES

Disposable plates made of paper — post-consumer- recycled or not — don’t have to be a drain on the landfills. After all, paper biodegrades relatively quickly compared to other trash, and paper plates, which can still take five years to decompose in a landfill, might even be recyclable.

“Almost all of our goods are recyclable,” said Jeff Kallil, vice president of marketing at Design Design. “Any paper products that do not have foil, and also glass containers from our soy-based wax candles are recyclable.”

Design Design is working on new packaging to increase the sustainability of its products, such as a new cellophane-type product made of paper as well as an eco-friendly acetate box for greeting cards and are hoping to launch the new packaging in 2022.

Buyers should look for unbleached post-consumer- recycled paper products with soy-based ink printing and no foil for paper plates. Take it a step further by seeking compostable products, including vegetable-based plastic lining to prevent liquids from soaking into the paper. For higher-end events, look for more eco-friendly options such as plates made of alternative materials such as palm leaf or sugarcane (that look like wood) since these materials grow much faster than trees.

CUTLERY

Some people wash and reuse plastic cutlery, but in case your customers don’t, choose to stock environmentally friendly options, such as cutlery made of wheat, corn, bamboo, sugarcane or birch.

The Eat Drink Host line from Boston International is an example of eco-friendly tableware that offers tiny wooden plates and forks made from birch. Boston International said that birch is a “fast growing tree species that causes little devastation or destruction of biodiversity when (they) are cut down.” The plates are an ideal size for appetizers and are disposable, compostable and biodegradable.

SOY-BASED

Unlike traditional wax, soy-based wax is a carbon-neutral material that retailers could offer in lieu of — or in addition to — traditional wax candles. Products with soy ink are equally as sustainable, and any maker that relies on this type of ink is probably paying attention to the eco-friendliness.

REUSABLE PRODUCTS

No party is complete without balloons. Look for re-inflatable foil balloons with self-sealing valves. Retailers can continue to make a profit on reusable balloons by offering refilling services in the store.

Round out your eco-friendly party product display by including cloth tablecloths and napkins, cake stands, serving ware and pretty gift boxes that can be reused for storage — the sky’s the limit.

As stores grapple with the consumer wishes to keep things earth-friendly, these simple, key shifts in the types of party goods retailers offer can mean a net gain for sustainability. Offering these goods will drive traffic, positive word-of-mouth advertising, which can increase sales.

As seen in Celebrations & Occasions, a special issue presented by Gift Shop® Plus and Stationery Trends.