Eco-Friendly Tableware for Earth-Conscious Entertaining

Summertime is all about entertaining for friends and family. A festive fête surrounded by good food, splashy drinks, and lively music is always enjoyable. However, summer gatherings will look quite different this year due to the coronavirus pandemic and social distancing guidelines put in place. To prevent the spread of germs and keep everyone at your party safe, use disposable tableware instead of silverware, cloth napkins, and porcelain plates. Since we don't advocate using single-use plastic products, we rounded up some of the prettiest, eco-friendly napkins, plates, and cutlery. Made from a variety of earth-conscious materials such as bamboo, wood, and sugar cane, you can entertain in style while reducing your carbon footprint.

More than 100 million pieces of plastic utensils are used by Americans every day, says the Plastic Pollution Coalition, which can take up to 1,000 years to decompose and leak harmful substances into the Earth as they break down. These sustainable options are made from wood and palm leaves that perfectly complement each other. Whether you're hosting a kid's birthday party, summer cookout, or casual happy hour, these plates from VerTerra and disposable wooden cutlery from Etsy are sturdy, attractive, and super practical.

If you're looking for super stylish, eco-friendly tableware, take a peek at the multicolored collection ahead. The scalloped plates and napkins come in four feminine hues—purple, light pink, raspberry, and mint green. They're just the thing for a baby shower, garden party, or girls' birthday party.

In just the U.S. alone, approximately 500 million straws are used every single day and as many as 8.3 billion straws pollute beaches across the globe, according to National Geographic. Something that you can use everyday—in addition to at your party—are stainless-steel straws, which can be washed in the dishwasher and are an eco-friendly alternative to plastic straws.

Stock up on these biodegradable, eco-friendly options before your next bash.

These pretty-in-pastel plates are just the thing for serving slices of cake, strawberry shortcake, and more. They're made from a combination of bamboo, wood fiber, and sugarcane pulp. But that's not all—instead of harmful colors, they're dyed with soy-based ink.

Shop Now: Meri Meri Eco-Friendly  Multicolor Dessert Plates, $9.99 for eight, partycity.com.

Whether you're taking a bite of potato salad or scooping up sorbet, this set includes wooden spoons, forks, and knives for your party. They're made of sturdy birch wood that is FDA-approved.

Shop Now: Ecospoons Eco-Friendly Wooden Cutlery, $10.99 for 75, etsy.com.

Delicate on the edges but bold in color, these napkins are a sweet pairing with their matching eco-friendly plates.

Shop Now: Meri Meri Eco-Friendly Multicolor Beverage Napkins, $5.99 for 20, partycity.com.

White plates never go out of style and this earth-saving set surely fits the bill. They're made with natural sugar cane fiber, but are just as sturdy and leak-resistant as a less sustainable set.

Shop Now: Eco-Friendly White Sugar Cane Dinner Plates, $12.99 for 50, partycity.com.

Understated but uber-useful, these plates are made exclusively with palm leaves. They can be safely put in the microwave, oven, and refrigerator, too.

Shop Now: VerTerra Square 10" Palm Leaf Plates, $12.99 for 25, joannehudson.com.

Have you ever seen napkins more apt for a summer picnic than this red and white gingham printed set? They're made from 100 percent sustainably harvested paper and are non-toxic and chlorine-free.

Shop Now: Recycled Red Patterned Cocktail Napkins, $7.99 for 200, ecopartytime.com.

Show everyone how much you love Mother Nature with these eco-friendly party cups and plates made from bamboo and printed with an eye-catching green leaf pattern.

Shop Now: Eco-Friendly Green Leaves Design, $43.64 for four-pack, etsy.com.

Want to make Mother's Day brunch or a bridal shower a little more eco-friendly without losing any personal touches? Try this luxe set of plates, cups, and napkins. The gold, coral, and marble color scheme is perfect for the glam girl in your life.

Shop Now: Eco-Friendly Geometrical Blush Collection, $6.98 for eight plates, cups, or napkins, etsy.com.

Lovely in lavender, these scalloped plates are made from the pulp of bamboo, wood fiber, sugarcane, and are dyed with soy-based ink, which is better for the environment than traditional color dyes.

Shop Now: Birthday Culture Simply Eco Large Plates, $7.65 for eight-pack, etsy.com.