How to Have a More Sustainable Mardi Gras Season

It's Mardi Gras season in New Orleans! The Passion Lilie team is indulging in all the king cake we can get our hands on as we prepare for the big weekends of Carnival ahead. The music, the parades, and the pervading sense of joy and revelry make for a season we look forward to all year long.

But as a sustainable fashion brand based in New Orleans, we start to get a little twitchy when we think about the environmental impact of Mardi Gras. 

From plastic waste to energy consumption, Mardi Gras can leave a significant footprint. In this post, we're sharing practical tips for a more sustainable Mardi Gras, including eco-friendly throw alternatives, bead recycling options, and easy ways to celebrate a greener Carnival season in New Orleans.

The Environmental Impact of Mardi Gras Waste

Mardi Gras is one of the most iconic celebrations in the world. We're so proud of it as part of our New Orleans identity. We're less proud of the enormous amount of waste we create in a very short time.

In 2023 alone, New Orleans sent 1,150 tons of waste to the landfill in just 11 days of Mardi Gras festivities. Much of the nearly 2.6 million pounds of waste came from plastic parade throws, bottles, and items that could have been recycled.

Unfortunately, the city lacks the infrastructure to ensure proper disposal of many of these materials. As a result, they often end up littering streets, clogging storm drains, and contributing to long-term plastic pollution in our waterways.

"Mardi Gras trees" with branches weighed down with beads long after parade season ends are a vivid reminder that Carnival waste can last far beyond the celebration.

Each year, the City of New Orleans spends millions cleaning beads from storm drains along parade routes. Those resources are vital, and they could serve so many other critical needs in our city.

Why Plastic Beads Are a Problem

The tradition of throwing beads began with organizations like Rex, which originally threw beautiful Czechoslovakian glass beads. Over time, plastic beads became the inexpensive default.

Today, most Mardi Gras beads are mass-produced overseas using low-cost materials, often with limited transparency around chemical safety and environmental impact.

Some studies have found that certain parade throws may contain unsafe levels of heavy metals or flame retardant chemicals, raising concerns about their long-term effects — especially for children.

Beyond potential health impacts, plastic beads can take centuries to break down. In the meantime, they contribute to microplastic pollution in our soil and water.

There's good news, though: people all around our city and state are doing great work to design more sustainable Mardi Gras throws.

Eco-Friendly Mardi Gras Throw Alternatives

If you're hoping to reduce waste this year, one of the most impactful choices is opting for sustainable Mardi Gras throws if you're a Krewe member.

Big or small, preschool parking lot parade or Krewe of Bacchus, each little swap makes a difference.

Grounds Krewe

Grounds Krewe creates compostable and environmentally responsible throws that keep plastic out of our streets and waterways.

They offer creative options like:

• Popcorn and grits
• Herb starter kits
• Tea and spices
• Reused glass beads
• And so much more

Their throws are diverse and so much more fun to throw (and catch!) than toxic Mardi Gras beads.

Epiphany Throws

Epiphany Throws creates gorgeous handcrafted throws and accessories using discarded Mardi Gras costumes and biodegradable materials like seeds, silk, and felt.

We love that many of their pieces are made by local New Orleans artists.

Why This Matters

Eco-friendly throws do cost more, but the benefits are massive:

• Less waste on our streets
• Fewer plastics in our waterways
• More support for local makers and organizations

With these options available, Krewe members can shift toward fewer, higher-quality throws in place of cheap, disposable ones. Revenue from these products benefits local organizations and makers, uplifting our economy and helping people in our area.

How to Recycle Mardi Gras Beads in New Orleans

Once the barricades have been put away and king cake season is done for the year, there's one more thing we can all do have a more sustainable Mardi Gras: recycle our beads!

After Carnival, bring your beads to one of ArcGNO's local drop-off sites, where throws are collected, sorted, and kept out of landfills.

ArcGNO (The Arc of Greater New Orleans) is a nonprofit that employs people with intellectual disabilities to recycle and resell Mardi Gras beads throughout the year.

Recycling beads helps:

• Reduce landfill waste
• Keep throws out of storm drains
• Support local nonprofit programs and employment opportunities

It's one of the simplest ways to reduce Mardi Gras waste after parade season.

Simple Ways to Have a Sustainable Mardi Gras Season

Want to celebrate Mardi Gras more sustainably beyond throws and beads? Here are a few of the realistic ways we try to have a greener Carnival season:

Reuse what you already have

Mardi Gras is the ultimate "closet treasure" holiday. Before buying anything new, shop your closet (or your friends') for past favorites.

You can also use our DIY guide to make fun Mardi Gras accessories with supplies you already have at home.

Choose local + small businesses

Supporting local makers and small shops keeps dollars in the community and reduces the footprint of mass-produced items.

Skip single-use plastics

Bring reusable cups, water bottles, and snack containers when possible. These small choices add up quickly during parade season.

Walk, bike, or carpool

Transportation is a big part of Mardi Gras' carbon footprint. Sharing rides or walking to the route can make a difference.

Opt for thoughtfully made clothing

Instead of buying cheap outfits or accessories you'll wear once, choose timeless pieces you'll reach for year after year.

Our fleur-de-lis layers are designed with Louisiana in mind. They're festive for Mardi Gras, Saints games, and any time you're feeling proud to be a New Orleanian.

FAQ: Sustainable Mardi Gras Tips

How can I celebrate Mardi Gras sustainably?

You can celebrate sustainably by choosing eco-friendly throws, recycling beads, reducing single-use plastics, and reusing costumes or accessories from past years.

Where can I recycle Mardi Gras beads in New Orleans?

ArcGNO offers local bead recycling drop-off sites throughout the city to keep throws out of landfills.

What are eco-friendly Mardi Gras throws?

Eco-friendly throws include compostable, reusable, or responsibly made alternatives like those offered by Grounds Krewe and Epiphany Throws.

A More Sustainable Mardi Gras Starts Small

Mardi Gras is one of our most cherished traditions in New Orleans. With a few thoughtful choices, it can also become a more sustainable one.

By choosing eco-friendly throws, recycling beads, and reducing plastic waste, we can all help protect our city's waterways and design a tradition of greener Carnival seasons for the future.

Looking for parade-ready layers you'll wear year after year? Explore our fair trade favorites inspired by Louisiana symbols and traditions.

Do you have ideas for how to have a greener Mardi Gras season? We'd love to hear them in the comments.

In the meantime: have some king cake, and laissez les bon temps rouler! 💜💛💚