low waste party ideas
Image from EcoWatch
The holidays are soon approaching and I’m sure we’re all excited to celebrate. Whether it be a movie night or a huge party, this is the perfect time to get together. Despite this being one of the most festive seasons of the year, it is also the most wasteful one. In America, we toss out about 25 percent more trash during the holidays than in other times of the year. In this blog post, I want to shift the way we think about celebrating and how we can do it guilt-free and sustainably.
Party Planning
A common mistake hosts can often make is providing too little or too much food during a gathering, leaving hungry guests or excess food waste. To avoid this you can implement virtual invites to get a more precise idea of how much food to provide or how big of a cake you should make.
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Utensils
Utensils are a big form of plastic waste during parties. A solution to this waste contributor would simply be to not use them. You can stick to finger food such as charcuterie boards, hamburgers, hotdogs, pizza, cupcakes, and other bite-size pastries. If you decide to provide a dish that requires utensils, consider getting compostable silverware as an alternative. If you throw parties often, you can also invest in a reusable set of silverware for get-togethers and celebrations.
Image from Delish
Party Supplies
With the holidays coming up in these four months, there are plenty of niche decorations that you may be tempted to buy to get into the holiday spirit, from fake Halloween spiders to ornaments that fit this year's home decor trends. However, it is important to reflect on how you can decorate your celebration spaces in a sustainable manner. So instead of ordering from Amazon or going on a Target shopping spree, consider asking your friends to borrow any seasonal decorations. You can also stop by your local thrift store and pick up some second-hand decor and supplies, including reusable dishes. Additionally, put your DIY skills to work, and make a statement centerpiece by assembling a flower bouquet out of farmers’ market finds.
Image from Lemon Grove Lane
Trash Control
Cleaning up during the after-party is another step we should take into consideration as we plan our holiday celebrations. So why not make it easy to clean as we celebrate? You can label a bin specifically for food waste and other compostables. You can also have another bin for recyclables. If you use compostable silverware and dishes, make sure to explain to your guests how to compost them.
The holiday season is an exciting time to celebrate with our communities and spend time with loved ones. However, it’s important to keep our environment in mind while we celebrate. With these tips in mind, your event will be a success for both your guests and the environment. Happy Holidays!
