Sustainability at Mardi Gras?

Krewe Freret throwing glass beads instead of plastic.

When I made the choice to go to New Orleans for Mardi Gras this year with my family, I did it to share the magic of Mardi Gras with them over a decade after my first time experiencing it. I never anticipated I’d see signs of a growing movement for a more sustainable Mardi Gras. 

Before the parades started, I saw the folks sporting Recycle Dat Tshirts as a part of the Grounds Krewe walking around placing recycling bins. Having worked with them before, I recognized the green reusable recycling bags from Osprey. My friends were like, did you just tell me about an innovative trash bag while drinking mimosas waiting for the parades to start? I responded with, “Yes, I’m a #wastenerd, what can I say?” 

Later, while I’m caught up in the excitement that comes with watching 4 parades go by, the Krewe Freret rolls through throwing no plastic beads. Instead we caught what looked like hand strung glass-bead necklaces, some with wooden medallions and other sustainable throws like recyclable bubbles made locally in New Orleans. 

I came home energized and I had to do some research to learn more. The Grounds Krewe has been around since 2018 with the Mission to promote waste prevention, recycling and sustainable products for NOLA events. In 2024, they collected and diverted 29,000+ pounds of waste away from landfill. In 2025, they plan to divert even more material. They have upped the incentives by offering locally sponsored prizes and they have a growing network of partners from government, non-profit and corporations making the impact even stronger. The Grounds Krewe is not offering a list of sustainable throws and other Krewes, beyond Freret, are taking steps for a more sustainable Mardi Gras as well. 

I went to New Orleans looking to have a good time and pushing down my guilt for participating in a consumer centric activity. I came home feeling inspired by the fact that if New Orleans can make impactful sustainability steps in a state where the recycling rate is in the single digits, there is hope for a better future.