As a kid the 4th of July holiday meant parties, fireworks and spending the day celebrating with friends. Who am I kidding? It still does! The only thing that’s changed from my giddy childhood celebrations is my desire to make sure green is always included with my red, white and blue merriment. Independence Day is an opportunity to demonstrate our patriotism for our country and our environment, won’t you join me in keeping this year’s 4th of July eco-friendly?
Food
The best part of 4th of July is the delicious – not necessarily healthy – food served at BBQs and parties. Will you be grilling on Thursday? The propane versus charcoal debate has raged for decades; to keep the green in our red, white and blue BBQ we take the advice of the Environment Impact Assessment Review, which tells us, “as a fuel, propane is dramatically more efficient than charcoal in its production and considerably more efficient in cooking.”
Propane’s overall carbon footprint comes in at a cool 349 kg of CO2, three times less than charcoal, a heavy 998 kg.
Cocktails
What’s a party without libations? Use this day to declare yourself independent of chemical-laden wines and spirits and try one (or two) of the many new organic wines and liquor available now. We shared a few organic cocktail recipes earlier this season, I can’t think of a better time to find a new signature drink.
Music
Keep the group lively with a rocking playlist. Americana music is ideal patriotic entertainment. Add green musicians to your set list and you can brag that even your music is eco-friendly. Take a look at these great green music suggestions.
Décor
Buck tradition and make your party BYOP – Bring Your Own Plate – to cut down on wasted paper plates and flatware. Even recycled products eventually find their way back to the landfill, so this year we decided to keep things natural and fun. Washing up gives us an opportunity to burn a few holiday calories. According to Fit Day, washing dishes burns at least 75 calories an hour. If cleaning up doesn’t fit into your schedule, take a look at our event services. The only finger you’ll need to lift is the one you use to make the reservation.
There’s nothing more patriotic than flying a flag. Did you know you’re required to “hoist it briskly and lower it ceremoniously?” Read more interesting facts about the display of flags here. Get a recycled flag from RecycledUSFlags.com or Republic Flags.
Fireworks
The dazzling display of lights should be the perfect ending to a great day, but according to the Mother Nature Network, that dazzling display can take a toll on both your health and the environment: “fireworks often contain carcinogenic or hormone-disrupting substances that can seep into soil and water, not to mention the lung-clogging smoke they release and plastic debris they scatter,” says Russell McLendon.
Eco-friendly fireworks made without the bad stuff are on the horizon. A team of scientists at the US Army’s Pyrotechnics Technology and Prototyping Division at Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey, USA, has found more eco-friendly replacements for one of the troublesome chemical components of fireworks, the so-called oxidizer that sets off the explosion. Until safer fireworks are commercially available, the greenest thing you can do is attend a public fireworks display instead of setting off your own.
What are you doing to celebrate a green 4th of July? Share your party photos and ideas with us on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest.
We wish you a very safe and happy 4th of July!