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Want to host a fun beach birthday party but worried about the environmental impact?
Whether it’s for a child, teen, or even an adult, you can easily turn a typical beach bash into an eco-friendly celebration!
With a few simple choices, you can throw an unforgettable eco-friendly beach birthday party while being kind to the Ocean.
So many times, when people have fun on the beach, they don’t realize how their activities can harm marine life.
Most people don’t want to harm marine life, but sometimes, either out of unawareness or carelessness, they unintentionally cause harm.
By choosing eco-friendly options and being mindful of our actions, we can help protect our oceans.
I hosted my cousin’s beach birthday party last year right here in New Jersey, and I’ll never forget the fun we had, all while staying true to my eco-friendly values.
Let me walk you through how you can do the same for your next beach birthday party!
Choosing an Eco-Friendly Beach Location
When you’re planning an eco-friendly beach birthday party, the location matters. Here in the U.S., we’re lucky to have so many beautiful beaches. But not all of them have the same focus on eco-friendliness.
It’s better to pick a local beach that has a strong clean-up effort or bans single-use plastics. In New Jersey, many shorelines encourage visitors to help maintain their natural beauty.
You definitely want one that is family-friendly and by that I mean room for kids, it cannot be too overcrowded.
You need a place with parking, restrooms and (I cannot stress this enough) LIFEGUARD — safety should always be first! We hired a lifeguard to God watch the kids at my cousin’s party so we could relax and have fun.
Also, think about how everyone will get to the beach. Encourage carpooling or biking to reduce your event’s carbon footprint.
For my cousin’s birthday, we made a carpool to the beach and it was ideal to start the celebration early with friends in the car!
Eco-Friendly Invitations
While the first thing that comes to mind when you plan a party is to send out cool yet wearable reminders, you certainly remember the excess of paper waste it can result in.
Being the responsible Earth citizens that you are, going digital is an awesome eco-friendly option. We did e-invites years ago and never looked back — they are easy, personalizable, and without waste.
If you want physical invitations, pick something eco-friendly: e.g. seed paper or at least using recycled materials.
I have used seed paper for special occasions, it is biodegradable and can even be planted after use! It’s a gift in itself.
Eco-Friendly Beach Party Decor
Decorating is one of the biggest waste producers at parties. The amount of plastic we get rid of per party is insane!
Plastic waste represents more than 30 million tons per year in the US alone and most of it eventually lands into our oceans.
Ditch the balloons and single-use banners for an eco-friendly beach party Instead, choose fabric banners that you can reuse or embrace the natural decor with shells, driftwood, and sand. You can also use biodegradable balloons.
At my cousin’s birthday, we used a banner made from recycled cloth, which we’ve since used at other family events!
Plastic Free Plates and Serverware
Another major problem at beach parties is plastic utensils and cups. Thankfully, there is a ton of sustainable options available.
I love using compostable plates, cups, and utensils made from bamboo or palm leaves. They are durable, good-looking, and biodegradable.
During the event, provide large water dispensers and ask everyone to bring their own reusable bottle for drinks.
I brought a big glass dispenser to my cousin’s party last year, which was lovely for everyone to stay hydrated without masses of single-use bottles accumulating everywhere.
Eco-Friendly Cake Options
Usually, a birthday party consists of cake, right? However, you don’t have to compromise on sustainability when it comes to sweet treats.
Go organic and locally baked to shrink your carbon footprint. Vegan, Gluten-Free And Low-Glycemic Cakes Are Great Alternatives As Long As They Use Certified Organic Or plant-based Ingredients.
For my cousin’s party, we ordered a beautiful vegan cake from a local bakery, which was both delicious and eco-friendly.
Also Read, Eco-friendly Birthday Cake Alternatives for Traditional Cakes.
Eco-Friendly Beach Party Activities
There are tons of awesome plastic-free things to do at the beach. My favorite one is a beach clean-up contest.
You get to have some fun while cleaning the beach. At my cousin’s birthday party, we had prizes for the people who picked up the most garbage, this turned out to be one of the things everyone remembered doing that day.
Kids can participate in sustainability sandcastle building by using biodegradable tools and you can even consider holding contests for all the children, who create the best castles.
Kids love playing in the sand, and it’s such a low-waste activity. You could even invest in eco-friendly kites or beach toys made from sustainable products then the fun carries on long after the party does.
Also Read, Sustainable Games Ideas for Parties.
Zero-Waste Party Favors
When it comes to party favors, ditch the plastic toys and trinkets that usually end up in the trash
Rather than giving plastic toys and trinkets, consider reusable gifts like bamboo straws, stainless steel water bottles, or eco-friendly sunscreen.
For my cousin’s birthday, I gave out tote bags made from recycled materials, and everyone loved them.
From a professional yoga teacher, you can also arrange Sunset yoga for your guests: A great way to relax after a long day.
Also Read, Eco-Friendly Party Favors Ideas for Kids
Eco-Friendly Beach Party Food Ideas
That brings us to food, which is a huge part of any party but also one of the easiest categories to make eco-friendly.
Skip the individually packaged snacks and instead go for large sharing platters. Fresh, local, seasonal fruits and sandwiches make great beach-friendly options.
Compost any food scraps after the party. Take reusable containers with you to keep leftovers and avoid food waste. This is something I’ve been doing for all my parties, and it really cuts down on waste.
Post-Party Beach Clean-Up
Be sure to clean up after the fun is done. And I always make sure to take leftovers in reusable trash bags. Encourage your guests to do a bit of clean-up — it’s only fair we leave the beach in better shape.
My cousin had a party and everyone took turns cleaning up, we turned it into a game to see who could collect the most trash!
Celebrating a beach birthday party in an eco-friendly way isn’t just a responsible choice—it’s also a lot of fun!
Making sustainable choices for your decorations, food, and activities is a great way to celebrate in a more planet-friendly manner. If I did it here you can too! Host a Beach Party to Remember.
Then, Let´s START PLANNING YOUR sustainable beach bash!
