An eco-friendly Christmas Office Party can be a lot of fun with these simple celebration tips!
The office holiday party is a special time. We all get to enjoy our co-workers away from the stresses of daily tasks. What makes the event even nicer, is keeping the celebration sustainable.
Here are our top three eco-friendly office party tips
1. Break out the fine china and good crystal
You don’t need to have a formal place setting for everyone around the table, but if the dishes can be washed, dried and put away to be used again, your holiday party is already well on its way to being green. The big news of 2016 was France banning plastic cutlery and takeaway packages to help reverse global warming trends. When we spend time having a meal together, the most lasting element should be our memories, not a plastic fork and spoon.
2. Give the gift of nature
Seed-laden wrapping paper, greeting cards and packing boxes are all the rage for this season of giving. The paper turns to compost in the earth as the seeds embedded in the pulp sprout and grow in the spring.
Green gifts don’t stop with the wrapping! Potted herbs for the kitchen, bird houses for the yard and solar-powered batteries to power devices are all gifts that better our planet for those we share it with. Fair trade catalogues, charitable gifts in lieu of consumables, and locally-made crafts all add to the spirit of sustainable living through the holidays.
3. Take the up-cycle challenge
Getting dressed up is one of the biggest pleasures in preparing for the office party. Add a layer of challenge to the mix by up-cycling second-hand clothing. See who can find the best of the worst Christmas sweaters from Goodwill or the Salvation Army thrift stores. Sparkle comes from bridesmaid’s dresses and vintages suits that are going out for their second dance. Award prizes for the best holiday finery that doesn’t break the bank or add to the fast-fashion building up in landfills.
Creativity and fun go to together during the holidays. Both work to make office parties sustainable for the end of this year and for the years to come.