Beth Parentice of Eco-Bar (866.222.4735, eco-bar.net), an organic bar catering and consulting service, shares her favorite eco-entertaining tips.
1.“I like bringing vintage serving pieces from flea markets and eBay to events. Rescuing items that would otherwise be tossed away helps the environment, and the statement pieces give guests something to talk about.”
2. “There are so many more organic spirits available now than there were a few years ago—one of my favorites is Square One organic vodka. It blends well with other organic mixers.”
3. “Organic mixers can be hard to find, so I suggest people create their own purees or juices from organic fruit. One of my favorite cocktails to make includes Square One cucumber vodka with muddled basil and lime, topped with ginger blossom-flavored Sipp from our own all-natural, organic sparkling beverage line.”
4. “Use fresh herbs like mint, basil, sage, and rosemary in cocktails, and display them on the bar for guests to see and smell.”
5. “If we’re not using glassware, we use Green Stripe biodegradable corn cups. They’re a bit more expensive than traditional plastic cups but are much more eco-friendly.”
Boxed Wine Gets a Makeover
Avoid discarding empty bottles with the new reusable casks of artisan wine from the20 (707.238.2275, the20wines.com). The casks, $39 to $299, offer a smaller carbon footprint by saving as much as 85 percent in packaging material. The bags of wine, sold separately, each contain 20 glasses and are easy to replace in the casks, making them perfect for summer picnics.
Goodbye, Red Solo Cup
For a poolside event, try the unbreakable Go Anywhere wine glasses from Govino (888.801.8748, govinowine.com). The glasses, $229 for 72, are made from BPA-free polymer, meaning they’re recyclable and reusable. For a rentable option, check out the new Capri polycarbonate collection, available in South Florida from Atlas Party Rental, which includes tumbler and flute glasses, for $1 each.