A family reunion is a joyous occasion. It is an opportunity for people to come from far and wide to regroup and catch up.
For some, it is a chance to catch up with family and friends that they have lost touch with over the years. It can be a daunting task trying to gather people together, especially if you no longer have contact details for them. This is when using a hassle free people search finder can come in useful, allowing you to quickly and easily trace the details of those you love and reconnect with old friends.
There are lots of ways you can do this and also be environmentally conscious. This post will focus on family reunion ideas with a green twist. Look below to find some ideas on how to host a large gathering in a way that is eco-friendly.
Environmentally Friendly Invites
Environmentally friendly invites are those that avoid paper, i.e., sending your invites electronically. Ways to do this include through email or over social media messaging, or simply via text.
But just because it’s virtual, it doesn’t mean it can’t look and sound nice too. If you want to send something sentimental and meaningful, you can create a perfect invite with a bit of online research using a free people search and by using companies like Greenvelope.
Digital invites are the future of event communication and these family reunion ideas are just one part of that. Greenvelope is an events-focused company that provides an extensive range of invites. They cover all types of events and also have a brilliant blog detailing all topics from weddings to baby showers.
Environmentally Friendly Eating
This point is not so much about the food that you eat, but more about how you eat it. Disposable plates, bowls, and cutlery are so easy to pick up and they make food on the go much more convenient, but they’re not great for the environment. Wherever possible, try and avoid these options and go for something more sustainable. Bamboo picnicware is a viable alternative that can be used time and time again. Or you could go down the route of compostable eating equipment which, as the name suggests, can go straight into the compost to be recycled back into the earth.
Recycle Waste
Recycling your waste may seem obvious, but there is still an alarming majority of people who don’t do it. If everything goes into the same garbage bag, you’re not doing your bit for the environment. Recycling is one of the greenest things that you can do. Not only does it reduce your overall waste output, but it reduces your carbon footprint as well.
Travel Arrangements
There is no escape from the negative impact that vehicles have on our planet. One thing to consider is event travel, and how to minimize it. You could hire a coach for people to collaborate on their travel or encourage car sharing wherever possible. Make the event as close to the majority of family members as possible.
Plan In Advance – Minimize Waste
Planning in advance is an essential part of any large-scale event. Every detail can be fine-tuned to be geared towards helping the environment instead of harming it. Another thing to consider is how you avoid food waste. When it comes to big family dinners, big family gatherings — whatever the occasion or however it looks — there is bound to be food. Food is the heart of the home. It helps bring people together, after all. So, when thinking about the menu for your green family gathering, think about how you can reduce the waste. Plan your menu so that it can be used as leftovers, for example. Don’t make excessive amounts of food that are going to be thrown away uneaten. Each family member can bring a dish, and each family member can take away what’s left to eat at another time. Make sure you bring the Tupperware!
Think About Decorations
If you want to make your event look nice, or it is centered around a particular theme, there are sustainable decorative ideas that you can use. Balloons alone can cause catastrophic harm to the local wildlife and nature, and they last practically forever. Instead of plastic banners, try making your own with recyclable materials such as wood or cardboard. There are so many options if you get your creative head on. Linen bunting that can be washed, stored, and reused at future events is much more sustainable and environmentally minded than plastic or paper.
You could also try renting your decorations from local businesses. These companies provide all the décor you could ever want or need, and they reuse and recycle so that you don’t have to think about it. This might increase the cost of your event slightly, however. Another option is to not have décor at all and opt to use nature as your backdrop. A family reunion that is hosted outside means fresh air, more space, and a beautiful backdrop of nature. What more could you desire?
Make Your Theme Green
Okay, there are plenty of ideas out there for a whole host of fun family reunion ideas. But you could take it one step further and plan your whole gathering around being more green. Environmentally friendly gathering ideas, for example, are things like a communal litter pick on the beach. You’d be surprised at how much you can actually catch up over the length of a nice walk, and you’ll be helping the planet while you do it. Another fun event is a clothes swap — this works particularly well for families with a lot of kids! Bring your old clothes and set up a swap and change station. You recycle clothes, and you support the earth. You can also nominate someone to drop the unwanted pieces off at a charity depot after the reunion has finished.
Hosting a big event doesn’t have to have a negative impact on the environment. There are so many ways and practices that you can implement to make your event more sustainable and greener without having to compromise on the element of fun. A big group can leave a big carbon footprint if the event is carelessly planned. Think about how you manage your food in terms of quantity but also in terms of potential food waste. Think about how you eat your food as well — plastic is not the way forward for a sustainable future earth. Going green is easy if you get creative!
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