We've been thinking more about sustainability for products that might be treated as "use and discard" by even eco-conscious parents under certain circumstances, and about minimizing our use of short-lifespan plastics. On that note, we've collected a mix of items that reflect a level of quality that really pleases us, and allows us to enjoy outdoor dining with less waste, less hassle, and more beauty, often at the same time.


Verterra's disposable tableware made of fallen leaves - yes, you read that right - is beautiful, durable, but single-use and expensive, and at first it had us scratching our heads. Why would anyone buy disposable bowls and plates for 90 cents apiece or more? How could anyone feel good about using such beautiful dishware in the first place when it had to be thrown away afterwards? But the more we thought about it - and the couple of times we used Verterra's gorgeous, sturdy disposable plates and bowls for lovely outdoor meals - the more we realized that special occasions often call for special expenditures. It's all a question of where you want to spend your money, and we've seen plenty of parties where disposable plastic dishes were used that might easily have cost this much. With Verterra disposables, you're establishing the perfect natural mood for a fancy outdoor dinner party, a wedding reception, or any other celebration or get-together that calls for warmth and class - and, best of all, it's a choice that really does help the environment.


Thick and sturdy

It's hard to dress up paper plates, but these unbleached gems got thrown in our compost bin each time we used them, just as paper plates would - and the strange but wonderful feeling of composting something that was beautifully made but designed to be discarded never got old. If we ever have a fancy party in our future and the budget to go with it, we'd buy these in a heartbeat. If you like to try before making a big purchase for an event, order a sample pack. Online at the Verterra website.


Glass straws were another pleasant surprise. Made of borosilicate glass, Glass Dharma's straws are beautiful, functional, and easy to clean. We received samples of four different straws from the company, and use these almost daily in our home now; their shortest straw length, the 6.25" Sipper, is perfect for our four-and-a-half-year-old, Z, and the Decorative Dots straws are both beautiful and well-designed - the two dots keep the straw from rolling if placed on an uneven countertop or table. They are easy to clean with an appropriately-sized wire brush, and if you buy a set of straws (we'd recommend the Decorative Dots, at $40 for a six-pack or $27 for a four-pack) a wire brush is included.


Green smoothie sipper

You can buy single straws for $7 to $9, depending on the style, and they also sell some very cool straw holders (it's a slippery slope, isn't it?) in ecospun felt (made of recycled PET), hemp, or (super cool) bamboo. With that you'd be like "The Hustler" of smoothies... Check them all out at Glass Dharma, and make sure you get the right sized brush if you order a single straw.


Go Baby's Outmat is less "green" than using an old blanket, but better for the environment than the PVC coatings you typically find in water-resistant play mats, and we couldn't resist including it here. Designed as a durable, luxurious, all-weather blanket for baby's outdoor time, it also works great as the world's best picnic or beach blanket. It's lightweight - under 3 lbs. in its well-designed carry bag - and has a great, luxurious fel to it thanks to its soft terry top side.


Go Baby also sells a line of 100% organic baby and kids' clothes.

You can buy the Outmat on Amazon.com or directly from Go Baby; it's $40 from either vendor, a $20 discount from its list price.


Cloth napkins are an easy switch and the most affordable step you can take to make sure that not only your indoor and outdoor and otherwise-away-from-home eating (lunches, snacks on the road, you name it) are kinder to the Earth. We've loved both Happikins, which feature lovely patterns and quality stitching, and Fabkins, which offer themed sets with embroidered images that kids can readily identify with and get excited about. We'd recommend either; Fabkins sell for about $23 for a set of five, and Happikins go for about $30 for a five-napkin set, but include an additional cloth bag for a snack or lunch item.

If you're surprised to see a four-year-old drinking a green smoothie, we'll have a review of the kitchen tool that has pretty much made that possible, coming up soon here or on Z Recommends!