Anyone that’s ever hosted a party knows it’s no small task, and, depending on the size and occasion, it can take quite a toll on your bank account and house. But what about the bigger picture? What sort of impact do all of the festivities have on the environment? Well, when you factor in the food, drinks and materials they require, such as, cups, utensils, plates, napkins, it’s worse than you might think—especially considering most people opt for the quicker, easier disposable options for these items.

Think about it this way: let’s say you’re throwing a party for 25 people plus guests—that can bring your total head count up to around 50. Then factor in what you’re serving. If you’re providing an actual meal then each person will need a plate, fork, knife and possibly a spoon. Since it’s likely that you do not have 50 knives, plates, etc., just lying around your place, you will probably opt to use paper and plastic alternatives, which means when the party’s over you’ll be left with trash bags full of materials that aren’t exactly biodegradable. And that was just ONE party in ONE city with less than a 100 guests—poor Mother Nature.

Luckily, more and more eco-friendly alternatives are popping up and becoming available for people everywhere, making it easier for you to decrease your party’s impact on the Earth. If you’re thinking of throwing the next big bash of the year, trade in those red solo cups and plastic forks from your college years for products made out of the following sustainable materials.

Wood
When it comes to food utensils, wood isn’t just for chopsticks anymore. These days, people can find spoons, forks, knives and even plates and bowls made from this naturally occurring material. In fact, Ecoware Biodegradables specializes in just that and even sells prepackaged cutlery sets that are great for anything from barbeques to baby showers. Each utensil is compostable and comprised of 100% natural, FSC-certified birch wood. Even their packaging is 100% recyclable—furthering their sustainable efforts. It’s important to note that this is just one of many companies offering this green option, so be sure to scour the market until you find what you’re looking for.

Cornstarch
Another great material being used for casual cutlery is cornstarch. Good Start Packaging carries sets of forks, spoons and knives made of a cornstarch talc combination that can handle hot foods and liquids just like the traditional silverware. The company even offers consumers the option of including a napkin or not—allowing the package to be even more efficient. Products made from cornstarch work WITH rather than AGAINST our planet and noticeably decrease the amount of harmful waste we transport to landfills every day.

Sugar-Cane Fiber
So, once you’ve decided what everyone will eat with, it’s important to decide what they’ll be eating their food off of. Sure, you can go the traditional route of paper plates, but often times those are not only produced from materials that contribute to deforestation, they also sometimes contain plastic coatings which make them extra harmful for us and the environment alike. An excellent alternative is any product made from sugar-cane fiber. One company in particular, Branch, offers a wide variety of plates and dinnerware, made of 100% sugar-cane fiber. Traditionally burned for disposal, opting to rather convert the sugar-cane fiber into a usable product drastically cuts down on pollution.

As far as cups go, anything reusable is a great alternative to Styrofoam or plastic—two of the most damaging materials to the planet. Overall implementing any of these into your party plans will surely make a difference to the environment, although you might not think so. So, next get-together, opt for the greener choices—the planet will thank you.

Katheryn Rivas is a freelance writer and resident blogger at online universities, a site dedicated to distance higher education. She welcomes your comments at katherynrivas87@gmail.com.