We instead made little seed balls and gave some to each of the children – it's just coconut coir, clay, plant food and flower seeds or leafy green veggie seeds, rolled into a ball. Incorporating an activity that happens at the party – cookie decorating or a gardening activity – is a great alternative to party bags."Įrin: "We didn't do party bags at all at my son's birthday. "This year, for her eighth birthday, we painted T-shirts as an activity – it's something the kids could take home and continue to use. When my eldest turned four, I made massive batches of playdough from scratch, added some biodegradable glitter and put them into glass jars that I'd saved. Nicole: "With party bags, try to avoid the cheap plastic junk that breaks almost as soon as you get home. When they die, I'll probably make fabric bunting."Įrin: "You might also pause to think about what the party setting needs – does it even need that many decorations?" Nicole: "We've got colourful paper bunting on string that we fold up and reuse. ( Supplied: Erin Rhoads) How can parents make party bags and decorations more sustainable? Reusable party kits helped avoid at least 34,000 single-use items being used last year. It was about slowly realising that even if something is compostable or recyclable, it's better not to be creating new things all the time." ![]() Nicole: "I previously used bamboo compostable plates but have now replaced these with a big party box full of plastic items that I can wash and reuse. Places like schools, childcare centres and toy libraries often use it as a fundraising tool." I give mine out for free to my local community, and it's booked out every weekend. "Everything's in one box and it's from someone within your community, so you can just drive or walk over there, collect it, use it, wash it and return it. "Most kits listed on the Party Kit Network website will contain reusable plates, bowls, cups, a jug, some serving bowls, and also sometimes reusable party decorations, like bunting, and party games, like reusable pass-the-parcel bags. They're often single-use and come in plastic wrapping. ( Supplied: Erin Rhoads) What's the best way to swap single-use plates, cups and cutlery for reusables?Įrin: "The most wasteful parts at a kids' party are the disposables – the plates and cups, and possibly also bowls, cutlery and napkins. I chatted with Erin - and also Nicole Lutze, a Sunshine Coast mum and sustainable living blogger - for tips on how parents can host children's parties that don't cost the earth.Įrin's party kit contains reusable cups, plates and other useful party supplies, which she sourced from the op shop. ![]() Usually, it's a parent helping other parents in a joyful and fun way," Erin explained. "It's an obvious solution to single-use plastic waste. Australia now has 98 party kits listed on the network website, and Aussies borrowing these kits avoided at least 34,000 single-use items last year. So, Erin brought the network Down Under – and it's taken off, despite launching during a pandemic. ![]() Hoping to spread the idea further, Erin stumbled upon the UK's Party Kit Network - a grassroots initiative to make kids' parties more sustainable via a shared network of reusable tableware kits. The mum-of-two had previously op-shopped a kit full of reusable cups, plates and other useful party bits and bobs, which she'd happily been loaning free to her local community. Two years ago, amid Melbourne's pandemic lockdowns, zero-waste author Erin Rhoads got thinking about children's parties - and the waste they too often create.
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