MAKE YOUR NEXT COOKOUT MORE ENVIRONMENTAL WITH THIS HANDY CHECKLIST
CUT DOWN ON TRASH
- Save paper by sending party invitations online.
- Disposable plates and cups, plastic cutlery and paper napkins often are the bulk of the trash from a cookout or picnic. Use real dishes (choose reusable plastic ones if you’re worried about breakage), cups and utensils. If you must have disposables, opt for recycled paper or bamboo.
- Use an inexpensive tablecloth or an old sheet instead of a paper or plastic table cover.
- Decorate with flowers, plants and fresh fruit.
- Limit single-serve containers by mixing beverages by the pitcher. (Try this recipe for Pomegranate Green Tea Punch.)
- Provide a recycling bin for cans and bottles.
SAVE ENERGY
- Buy your fruits and vegetables locally, from a farmers’ market. It takes less fuel to transport produce when it’s grown nearby.
- Continue your shindig into the night with solar-powered lawn lights.
- Keep the hood down on your grill to save fuel.
AVOID AIR POLLUTION
- Opt for a cleaner-burning electric or gas grill. If you must use a traditional grill, all-natural lump charcoal has fewer additives than conventional charcoal does.
- Clean your grill properly after each use to cut down on smoke. Scrape away grease and grime with a wire brush while the grill is still hot.
- Keep insects away with bug-repellent soy candles instead of bug spray.
REDUCE FOOD WASTE
- Ask guests to RSVP so you can buy the correct amount of food.
- Use slightly smaller plates. One study found that people tend to fill bigger plates with more food—which often ends up in the trash.
- Send your guests home with doggie bags, or use the night’s leftovers to create new dishes, such as Grilled Eggplant & Tomato Sandwiches with Romano Black Pepper Mayonnaise.
For more Beauty and Food Tips from Unilever and your favorite brands, visit www.MakingLifeBetter.com.
