Do some eco-friendly tailgating in style this season.

Whether you are tailgating at college football games in the fall or at weekend soccer games for the kiddos, make sure your next tailgate is a success. Tailgating doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t have the comforts of home (within reason) or that you can’t stick to your principles about being green.

Are you often envious of others’ setups? No worries, you just need to up your game a little with a few fun additions. Good tailgating is about planning ahead. Just like you wouldn’t expect your team to take the field without practice, you shouldn’t expect to have a killer tailgate without a little prep work. And a few gadgets make everything go more smoothly. We have a few suggestions to make your next tailgate a touchdown (or insert other sport metaphor here)!

Must-Have Tailgating Goodies

1. Solar Cooker/Grill

Be a grill master and the envy of your tailgate neighbors with a super cool solar cooker. Harness the power of the sun to power your next outdoor get together.

2. Steel Growler

Instead of grabbing a six-pack, fill up your reusable steel growler. Not only is it a more environmentally-friendly option, but allows you to enjoy your favorite microbrew. We won’t tell if you cover this badboy with your team’s stickers, either.

3.Tailgating Games

A tailgate isn’t complete without games like yard Jenga, yardzee, bottle ring toss, cornhole, and more.

4. Crank Blender

Planning an adult beverage friendly tailgate? This cord- and battery-free blender is just what you need. With just a little elbow grease, you can make margaritas, pina coladas, or your slushie beverage of choice.

5. Picnic Basket

A picnic basket full of reusable plates, cups, and utensils is the classy way to handle tailgating and making sure to keep it green.

6. Air Lounger

Chillax with blow up air loungers for the ultimate in relaxation and portability and no pump is required! Get a couple for you and your tailgating guests.

7. Solar Charger

Keep your devices charged up with a handy solar charger. From cell phones to keep up with the game to bluetooth speakers for tunes, a solar charger can keep your day all charged up.

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The post 7 Planet-Friendly Must-Haves for Super Awesome Guilt-Free Tailgating appeared first on EcoSalon.

Planning a graduation party, family reunion, or just a backyard barbecue with a few friends? Grill up a tasty feast without the big carbon footprint.

If you’re planning a Memorial Day cookout, big or small, you’re probably tempted to reach for the old standbys: paper plates, plastic cutlery, canned beverages, and packaged meats. Unfortunately, along with ease and convenience, these American barbecue staples come with a lot of unnecessary waste and negative environmental impacts.

With a little planning and some flexibility, you can plan a gorgeous cookout with delicious food that won’t leave you with a big case of eco-guilt. Here are some tips that will get you started.

Skip The Charcoal Briquettes

Sure, they’re available at just about every grocery store, but that cheap charcoal isn’t as innocent as it seems. “Burning charcoal or wood produces clouds of sooty particles that can lodge in lungs, irritating asthma and other respiratory problems,” writes Brian Howard for the Daily Green. “Carcinogenic volatile organic compounds like benzene are released. The whole mess can contribute to smog.”

Instead, grab a bag of lump or ‘natural charcoal’ which is made from hardwood, contains no additives, and produces less ash when burned than briquettes. You’ll still get that smoky sear you want, without worrying about lighter fluid soaking into your food. Check out the 365 brand of real hardwood charcoal available at Whole Foods.

Opt For Non-Plastic Plates & Flatware

It may feel great, just tossing all the used plates and forks into the trash when the barbecue’s over, but the few minutes you save are doing years of harm to the planet. In addition to being a waste of money, disposable dishes and cutlery contribute to the mountain of plastic waste already swirling around in our landfills and oceans.

If you’re cooking out in your own backyard, simply use the plates, cups, and traditional cutlery in your kitchen. If that’s not viable, choose reusable plastic options, such as Recycline’s Preserve Tableware, or compostable alternatives made from bamboo or sugar cane. Check out the Sustainable Earth line of compostable cutlery offered at Staples.

Choose Local Meat & Produce

Around the country, many farmers markets and CSAs are gearing up for the summer season. Plan to visit your local market the weekend before your cookout. Load up on grassfed beef, and delicious fruits and veggies that were likely grown by the same person who rings up your order. Many farmers markets even offer locally made cheeses, breads, salsas, and sauces. If you’re planning a potluck affair, email a list of market vendors to your guests, and encourage them to choose their contribution from a local artisan. Check out www.localharvest.org to find a farmers market or CSA near you, and browse Ecosalon’s Top 10 Picnic Foods.

Bring Better Beverages

Sure, it’s easy to buy a couple of cases of soda and cheap domestic beer, dump them into the cooler and call it a day. Americans discard about 2.7 million tons of aluminum each year, mostly in the form of beverage containers. Only around 50 percent get recycled, so that’s a lot of usable metal heading to the landfill. If possible, make large batches of lemonade, iced tea, or punch in pitchers or glass jars that have an easy pour spigot.

For the adults, choose local and/or organic beers in a keg (no waste!), or if you’re not planning on drinking that much, in glass bottles. Glass is one of the few materials that can be recycled infinitely without losing strength, purity or quality. Set up a special barrel where your guests can deposit their empty bottles, so they can be easily recycled when the party’s over. Check out the Organic Authority’s guide to choosing eco-friendly beer.

Image: kevinmarsh

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