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Best eco-friendly and sustainable party supplies

Celebrating in 2020 has been an experience to say the least. Lockdown meant anyone with a spring or summer celebration has had to find a new way of marking the occasion this year. Wedding receptions via Zoom, online birthday parties and socially distanced gatherings in the park are all now part of our new normal.

Covid has forced us to think differently when it comes to parties, but it’s also made us take a second look at our party decorations and accessories.

With experts warning that there will be more plastic than fish in the sea by 2050 if we continue as we are, it’s high time we extended our collective pullback on single-use plastics to party supplies too.

That means switching to recyclable and reusable where possible - think solar powered fairy lights, cotton bunting, metal or glass straws, bamboo plates and cutlery and pretty pom-poms.

Time to rethink balloons

Balloons may have been the go-to decorations of parties past, but many take months to break down, if at all. Doing a balloon release is hugely irresponsible - the balloons burst and are mistaken for food by birds and other animals, killing them once ingested.

Try alternatives like tissue paper pom poms, faux or real flowers and fabric banners instead. If you’re set on balloons, stick to the ‘pin it and bin it’ rule, putting deflated ones in the bin once you’re done.

Greener party decorations

We know it can be tough to escape plastic completely; the problem with the stuff is that it’s everywhere. Avoid it where you can, but where you can’t, opt for decorations made from sustainable and non-toxic materials, as well as the aforementioned reusable and recyclable. UK-made products are also a winner as they should have less of a carbon footprint.

Invest in good times

Try to see your new party purchases as investments and pack them away in storage boxes with the same care you would give your Christmas or other festive decorations. That way you can use them again and again, getting more value for your money and easing the environmental burden.

Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, graduation, wedding, new baby or just want to go all out for your next BBQ, we’ve rounded up the best options to help you throw your next bash.

See our favourites below

Happy Birthday Pom Pom Bunting

Start a new tradition by taking birthday snaps with the cake with this gorgeous fabric banner as a backdrop. It’s made from cotton, so it’s washing machine-friendly, and comes with a set of clip-on wool pom-poms to decorate for extra cuteness.

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£40 | NOTHS

Biodegradable Rainbow Confetti Party Cannon Popper

Got a surprise birthday party in the calendar? Hand out these mini cannons to guests to set off at the crucial moment: they’ll shoot out a joyful cascade of tissue paper confetti in bright rainbow shades.

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£2.49 | NOTHS

Multicolor Knitted Flag Garland

Made from knitted organic cotton and strung on strong cord, this party bunting garland will jazz up all celebratory events. It comes with a drawstring bag to help keep it stored safely away until your next shindig.

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£24.65 | Meri Meri

WANDIC Ribbon Tassel Garland

Bright and beautiful, this garland is made of ribbons and comes in various palettes so if this compilation isn’t the one for you there are plenty of other options to choose from. String it up along a wall as a backdrop or hang over tables to dress up various areas.

Measures 100cm long and 35cm down.

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£10.19 | Amazon

LYWYGG 8X6FT Flower Wall Backdrop

Ever since Kanye and Kim’s 2014 wedding pictures came out in front of that flower wall, it’s been a mainstay on the party decor circuit. Have your own A-list moment with this lightweight piece of vinyl, perfect for taking pictures in front of or displaying behind your buffet station.

Available in three sizes.

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£22.98 | Amazon

Talking Tables Mix, Paper, Boho Fabric Garland, 1m

Measuring 2.5 x 23 x 19cm, this bright and fun garland is studded with pom-poms and tassels in a blue and pink dominant colourway. It’s well-made from high-quality materials which should see you through many parties in the years to come - as long as its properly stored away.

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£14 | Amazon

LEON Biodegradable Drink Straws, Pack of 80

Using plastic straws has become as unfashionable as smoking: we now use everything from paper versions to strands of pasta instead. Rather than presenting your guests with spaghetti though, we think these biodegradable straws tick all the boxes.

The colourful straws are made from 80 per cent potato starch (with the shortfall made up of biodegradable plastics), making them much kinder to the environment. Each pack contains 80 straws.

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£5 | John Lewis

Ginger Ray for Paperchase pastel tassel garland

This paper tassel garland is ideal for dressing up rooms and back yards with a pop of pastel colour. It’s important to note that the garland includes foil tassels too, so remove these if you want to recycle the paper. However, kept clean and stored away in a box, this is one of those decorations you can easily wheel out as the occasion calls.

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£7 | Paperchase

Wool Couture Pastels Pompom Garland Craft Kit

Up for a little crafting? DIY your own pom-pom banner with Wool Couture’s easy-to-follow kit. No previous experience necessary - before you know it you’ll have a mini garland of six pom-poms ready to hang for your next soiree.

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£10 | John Lewis

Kikkerland Coloured Reusable Glass Straws

Paper straws are great for kids, but when it comes to hosting grown-ups you can afford to invest in nicer pieces - like this set of glass straws. In a contemporary cool blue-yellow-white palette, the six-set is made up of three straight straws and three angled ones. Comes with a cotton brush to keep them spick and span.

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£12 | Conran Shop

Konges Sløjd Silicone Straws x 6 - Blue

Don’t like paper and too nervous about glass? Try hard-wearing silicone straws, perfect for kids’ parties, playdates and picnics. This set comes in a sweet ombre selection of blue and there’s a cleaning brush included as well.

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£8.50 | Scandiborn

Vintage Rose Tissue Paper Pom Poms - set of 6

A kinder option that will give the same effect as balloons without the plastic guilt is tissue paper pom-poms. We’ve featured blush hues here but you can pick from a spectrum of other colours. The set will be delivered flat along with wire from which to hang them.

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From £5.69 | Etsy

Lemon Gingham Bunting

Throwing a tea party or baby shower? Vintage looks are a popular theme and there’s nothing more instantly decorative than plaid bunting. Running five metres with 16 pendants, this cheerful lemon bunting is made from 100 per cent cotton which means you can sling it in the wash if it gets dirty. Hang out of reach of children.

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£14.99 | Little Cherry

Kuou 12Pcs Hanging Paper Fans

High quality and easy to assemble, these paper fans will get your space looking ready for a celebration. The 12-piece set comes with hanging string attached to each fan plus adhesive tape to stick them together. Suspend them from the ceiling, make a feature wall or hang over doorways to create an impact.

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£11.49 | Amazon

Party Like There is a Tomorrow Cups

Talking Tables has launched a capsule range of party products aimed at helping the planet. Paper cups are notoriously tough to recycle because of the lining, but this set of eight FSC paper cups have a water based varnish which make them fully recyclable. A good option if you have more guests than glasses in your cupboards. Plates, napkins and tablecloths are also available in the same eco-friendly range.

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£4.50 | Talking Table

Pack of 10 Artificial Marigold Garlands

One for weddings and hen parties, this set of 10 artificial marigold garlands come in retina searingly-bright shades, ready to strand up in your venue. They’re popular in Hindu festivities like a henna party but would also work well for anyone throwing a bash with a tropical or bohemian theme.

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£21.14 | Etsy

Wooden Canape Boats

Dish up tasty morsels like canapes, chargrilled corn and hot dogs in natural pinewood boat bowls. It will hold wet things like condiments well, but not anything runny. Once used, scrape them clean and give them a rinse before binning in your recyclables or better yet, a compost bin.

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£1.49 | Pretty Little Party

Beeswax Birthday Candles - box of 20

Natural beeswax is a kinder alternative to traditional candles, purifying air instead of contaminating it with pollutants. These are food safe and come in a warm yellow, making them ideal for any type of party.

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£16 | Nordic House

Wilko LED Tealights 6 pack

Real candles can be an issue around kids and pets. Keep them safe with techy alternatives like LED tealight instead. This six pack flicker just like the real thing and come with batteries included so they’re good to go whenever you are.

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£2.50 | Wilko

BOLWEO Solar Powered String Lights

Fairy lights have the magical ability to transform any space - even a dilapidated shed, we're willing to bet - into an enchanting wonderland.

So even if your garden needs more than a bit of work, you can transform your space with the help of some strategically placed fairy lights. Diffusing a soft, forgiving glow, these are solar powered and waterproof, making them the perfect decorative addition to outdoor celebrations.

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£11.04 | Amazon

Talking Tables Palm Leaf Mini Bowls, Set of 6

Fancy a dinner party but don’t like the idea of all that washing up? Cut down your load with this set of six completely biodegradable palm leaf bowls.

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£6 | John Lewis

VonChef 3 Tier Drinks Dispenser

Save yourself the hassle of refilling drinks all night with this handy three-tier dispenser that does the work for you. Offering a total capacity of 10.5 litres, it’s the perfect helper at parties, BBQs and other gatherings. As well as the three divided 3.5 litre tiers there’s also a large ice compartment (1.7 litres) in the base to keep drinks chilled.

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£28.99 | VonHaus

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