Preparing for a new addition to the family is such an exciting time! These 30 awesome hacks for an eco friendly Baby shower are just what you need to make it easy and budget friendly.
If you’re an eco-friendly mama-to-be, then you probably want to do things in an environmentally friendly way. But that doesn’t mean that you need to miss out on having an amazing baby shower.
This post is all about 30 awesome hacks for an eco friendly Baby shower
To make this event special and memorable, here are 30 easy hacks for an eco-friendly baby shower:
1. Eco-friendly baby shower party favours:
The best baby shower party favours are eco-friendly. Eco-friendly party favours can be found in great reusable items like jam jars, seeds to plant, baked cookies, and flower holders from the shower can be given to guest to take home as party favours. The items can be neatly packaged in recyclable paper bags and gifted to your guests. Add a bit of greenery and twine to them and you’re good to go!
2. Print invites at home:
In today’s world, you can use free versions of various softwares like Canva, to design and print your invitations. Or better still, go Paperless!
Digital invitations eliminate the need for paper, envelopes, and postage. They are easy to customise and update if plans change. Guests can RSVP instantly, reducing your effort. This simple step can literally be done in the comfort of your own home, with your phone or laptop.
3. Create a Digital RSVP System:
An online RSVP form helps track attendance without printing physical cards. It keeps all guest information organised in one place.
4. Host a Co-Ed Shower:
Combining celebrations into one event reduces the resources needed for multiple gatherings. Fewer decorations, meals, and transportation trips are required overall. It creates a more inclusive atmosphere for friends and family. This approach saves both money and materials as multiple parties can contribute a smaller amount for a larger event.
5. Choose a Local Venue:
Selecting a venue close to most guests, reduces travel-related emissions. Local locations are often easier and more affordable to access. Guests spend less time commuting and more time celebrating. Supporting nearby businesses also benefits the local community. Or if you know someone who has a decent sized backyard, you could hold it free of cost there.
6. Schedule During Daylight Hours:
Natural sunlight reduces the need for artificial lighting. Daytime events often feel bright, cheerful, and welcoming. Lower energy consumption helps make the celebration more sustainable. Just remember to check the weather report for that day!
7. Use Potted Plants as Centrepieces:
Potted plants serve as beautiful decorations while generating little waste. Guests can take them home and continue enjoying them after the event. Unlike cut flowers, they have a longer lifespan. They also add a fresh, natural element to the celebration. I like to add little accents, like pine cones we collected from the forest, or moss from the forest floor.
8. Decorate with Items You Already Own:
A lot of what we need is already sitting at home. Using existing household items prevents excess spending. Baby blankets, baskets, books, and toys can all help create charming displays. Repurposed decor often feels more personal and meaningful. This approach reduces both spending and waste and adds a cosy feel to the event.
9. Create a Reusable Fabric Banner:
Fabric banners or buntings, can be used for future parties and family events. They are sturdier and more durable than paper decorations. They are also easy to clean. Simply throw them in the wash and hang to dry. Personalised banners can become keepsakes over time.
10. Use Your Garden:
Garden clippings provide natural beauty without additional packaging or transportation. Greenery can be arranged creatively on tables or walls. Here is where creativity and imagination come into play. After the event, it can be composted. This option is both sustainable and budget-friendly.
11. Borrow Decorations:
If you don’t have much at home in the way of decorations, borrowing party supplies is the next option. Friends and family often have decorations stored after events. Sharing resources reduces unnecessary consumption. It also encourages a community feeling.
12. Decorate with Baby Books:
Baby books serve as decorations and practical gifts at the same time. They create a warm and cosy theme for the shower. After the event, the books can become part of the baby’s library. This eliminates the need for single-use decor.
13. Use Cloth Tablecloths and Napkins:
Reusable linens add elegance to any baby shower. They generate significantly less waste than disposable alternatives. We use Linen napkins at home on a daily basis. I love using them as they can be washed and reused many times. They often prove more cost-effective over the long term.
14. Serve Locally Sourced Food:
If you’re thinking of catering, local food generally travels shorter distances before reaching your table. Perhaps you know someone who runs a small home business catering. This helps them and you. Fresh ingredients often taste better and are in season. Guests will also appreciate the connection to community.
15. Offer Seasonal Produce:
Seasonal fruits and vegetables require fewer resources to produce. They are usually fresher, more flavourful, and more in budget. Choosing seasonal produce is a simple way to make the menu greener.
16. Use Real Dishes and Cutlery:
Using everyday dishes and cutlery provides a more polished dining experience. Washing dishes uses fewer resources than repeatedly purchasing disposables. Guests often notice and appreciate the extra effort.
17. Set Up Beverage Dispensers:
Large beverage dispensers reduce the need for individual bottles and cans. Guests can refill their cups as needed. This cuts down on packaging waste and recycling requirements. It also creates an attractive drink station. You can make homemade lemonade and fruit syrups before hand and use them for your beverage station.
18. Provide Recycling and Compost Bins:
Clearly labeled bins encourage guests to dispose of items responsibly. Composting food scraps keeps organic waste out of landfills. Recycling helps recover valuable materials. Visible waste stations make sustainability easy for everyone. Plus, keeping an extra space for leftovers, where food can either be donated or taken home reduces food wastage.
19. Plan Portions Carefully:
Thoughtful portion planning reduces food waste significantly. Consider the number of guests and the event duration when preparing food. Smaller portions can always be replenished if necessary. Any remaining leftovers are easier to manage or donate.
20. Send Leftovers Home in Reusable Containers:
Guests often appreciate taking home extra food. Reusable containers prevent reliance on disposable packaging. This helps ensure good food is not wasted.
21. Choose a Simple Homemade Cake:
If you’re not much of a Baker like me, then perhaps you know someone who is willing to bake one for you. Not only do you get a homemade cake, but you also help support a small business. Homemade cakes often require less packaging than store-bought options. Ingredients can be sourced locally and sustainably. A simple design can still look beautiful and festive. The personal touch adds warmth to the celebration.
22. Skip Disposable Game Printouts:
Many traditional baby shower games can be adapted without paper. Verbal games and interactive activities create less waste. Or just bring out your Pictionary and other board games and watch the fun unfold.
23. Host a Baby Book Signing Station:
Guests can write messages inside a favourite children’s book. The books become treasured keepsakes for the child. This activity replaces disposable guest books and game sheets. You could also prop a blank canvas against the wall, provide assorted colourful markers and let the guests leave comments. This creates meaningful memories while reducing waste.
24. Create a Reusable Advice Journal:
A durable journal can collect parenting tips and well wishes. The parents can revisit the advice for years to come. Unlike loose paper notes, everything stays organised. The journal becomes a cherished family keepsake that can even be passed down to the next generation.
25. Organise a Group Craft:
Activities such as decorating cloth bibs or onesies create practical items for the baby. Guests enjoy making something meaningful together. The finished products have lasting value rather than being discarded. Crafting encourages creativity and connection with one another.
26. Play Experience-Based Games:
Games that rely on storytelling, guessing, or conversation require no materials. They create memorable interactions among guests. Eliminating supplies reduces both costs and waste. The focus stays on relationships and celebration. A good example is Dumb Charades or Pictionary.
27. Request Secondhand Baby Gear:
I cannot stress this point enough. Many baby items are used for only a short period. It makes zero financial sense to buy everything new for babies. They aren’t going to remember any of it. Plus, babies grow so fast, it would be too expensive to keep buying new clothes for them. Ask people for old and second or even third hand baby clothes. There will be plenty of spills, spit ups and stains in the first few years of your child’s life.
28. Encourage Group Gifting:
A baby shower shouldn’t be gift focused. It’s a celebration of love and about welcoming a new family member. Multiple guests can get together and contribute towards bigger items such as strollers or cribs. This reduces duplicate gifts and excess packaging. Group gifts often allow parents to receive higher-quality items.
29. Ask for Consumable Gifts:
Consumable items such as diapers, wipes, and baby lotion will all eventually be used. They reduce the risk of unwanted gifts accumulating. Parents appreciate receiving necessities. This option also minimises long-term clutter.
30. Create a Sustainable Registry:
A registry focused on eco-friendly products guides guests toward thoughtful purchases. Reusable, durable, and ethically made items are excellent choices. This means that soon to be parents receive products that align with their values. The registry is a good way to simplify gift decisions for guests.
Bonus Tip
Replace Favours with a Meaningful Alternative:
Another idea is to do away with gifting entirely! Instead of disposable party favours, consider donating to a charity or giving seed packets. Guests leave with something purposeful and memorable. This reduces waste while supporting a positive cause.
I hope these 30 awesome hacks for an eco friendly Baby shower gave you some good ideas to plan yours. If you have more ideas to add or share, then please leave them in the comments below!
