Commencement celebrations and photoshoots can often mean environmentally damaging waste like balloons and confetti. These easy substitutions can help everyone celebrate sustainably.Lots of milestones in life, like graduations or birthdays, call for celebration. However, celebrating these moments can sometimes create environmentally damaging waste.
Sustainability at the University of Alabama at Birmingham works to find solutions to everyday problems, says manager Bambi Ingram. Good-intentioned people can unknowingly cause harm to the environment. Graduation celebrations are understandably festive, but Ingram wants to ensure everyone can celebrate sustainably with a few easy substitutions.
Typical celebrations may include confetti, glitter, Mylar balloons, streamers or other items. These items, usually made from plastic, may be used for commencement photoshoots out on campus and are virtually impossible to clean up. They end up as litter on the ground and wash away into drainage systems and local water sources, where they can harm aquatic life and birds. In addition to the environmental impacts these materials have, the litter is inevitably scattered and pressed into the ground, where it can harm the health of the soil.
Ingram and UAB Sustainability Coordinator Nick Ciancio have suggestions for how to celebrate more sustainably. These substitutions are fun and safer for the environment.
Water soluble confetti
For the classic photo featuring a person blowing or throwing confetti, choose rice paper or other water-soluble confetti. They dissolve easily in water, and many options are available. UAB Bookstore now offers eco-confetti, paper confetti that is embedded with wildflower seeds.
UAB strongly recommends graduating students and their families not use items that can cause permanent damage to any sculptures or physical spaces. These include sparklers, smoke bombs and other props. If damage is caused, the offending party may be responsible for any costs to correct the damage. It is also recommended that graduating students remove any confetti once their photo session is complete.
Be cautious about brands that label their confetti as biodegradable. Some biodegradable products also create microplastics and do not degrade or may take much more time to break down. The longer confetti are on the ground, the greater the likelihood is that they will negatively affect wildlife.
Bubbles
Bubbles can be a great way to add interest to photos and joy to parties. Have some friends help blow them into the photo area, or purchase a toy bubble machine for extra fun.
Flower petals
Scattering flower petals creates a gorgeous effect for photos. Just a few flowers will give lots of petals. Flowers are available for purchase in many colors. Ciancio recommends people consider how they can use native or landscape flowers picked from their yard or native flowers from a meadow.