Go green the eco-friendly way this St. Patrick’s Day

Throwing a party, joining a parade or having a few guests for dinner? Going green this St. Patrick’s day can be fun & eco-friendly! Keep your friends, family, and even ol’ gramps green with envy, with these organic, crafty and reuse alternatives.

Buy Local Organic Beer

Not only does organic beer taste great, its naturally sourced ingredients are better for you and the environment. Purchasing from a local brewer will reduce transportation emissions. If you’re planning an event, consider renting a keg over buying cases. While glass bottles and cans can be efficiently recycled, kegs offer better reusability, and no packaging waste. Just add a little green food coloring and you’ll have the greenest beer you can get. 

If you’re in the looking enjoying a pint out, consider an establishment that also offers local and organic. For locals of Los Angeles, check out Sage; the world’s first organic vegan beer garden. Co-owned by Woody Harrelson, it offers a wide array of beer and delicious meals as locally-sourced as possible.

Get crafty with recyclables

Instead of throwing away empty soda bottles, reuse them to make little leprechaun cauldrons, and fill them with gold! All you need is a little felt & paint. Kids will love finding out these “coins” are not quite what they expected! View the step-by-step tutorial. 

Borrow or Reuse your clothing & decorations

Swap St. Patrick’s outfits & decor with family and friends. If you are celebrating separately, you’ll both get a new look. Also, make your trash into someone else’s treasure, donate to your local salvation army, value village or thrift shop.

Bring new life to decorations from other holidays too. Hang green holiday balls, even reuse them to decorate a St. Patrick’s wreath. For a dinner party, reuse your green napkins and tablecloths. 

Use reusable, compostable or recyclable dishes, plates & cups

Reusable glasses and dinnerware are the most eco-friendly options. For a one-time use for a larger gathering, avoid buying cheap plastics as they won’t get recycled. Look for a plastic recycling number or go with paper based product that is compostable. If you’re willing to put in some elbow grease; wash your recyclable plastics for reuse at you next event.

Go green in more ways than one this St. Patrick’s day. Help reduce your landfill contributions through reusing, reducing and recycling.