0 In Lifestyle/ Zero Waste

How to Host a Zero Waste Party

Just recently I turned 30 (gasp) and for that milestone I had to celebrate. I really wanted to make something special but didn’t want anything too fancy or wasteful for that matter, so I had to put my thinking hat on and figure out how to make this party happen with as little waste as possible.

How to Host a Zero Waste Party

First things first, you gotta keep it simple. Whatever the special occasion you want to celebrate, it’s already stressful enough to get everything right to last detail, so don’t overcomplicate it.

For my birthday I really wanted to make something simple but nice, so I decided for a picnic by the beach. See, we are really lucky to have this place to call home and I had to take advantage of our close location and gorgeous weather. A picnic was the perfect pick because I could prepare everything before hand, didn’t have to worry about hot food being served so I could just relax and enjoy the party.

This was the menu I prepared for the party:

Hummus
Eggplant Dip
Corn chips
Pesto Pasta
Veggie Deli Sandwiches
Nuts
Pretzels
Cheeses
Fruits

Here are some tips that helped me organise this party zero waste:

Buy in bulk
First, create a list of what you’ll make, then write down the ingredients and buy the things you can in bulk. What’s left of the list, then you can buy buy at the supermarket or farmers market/local deli (if you can).
Keep it simple
I knew I wanted something simple so I made a menu that was a crowd’s pleaser and didn’t take me much time to create. I made the dips a day before, and the sandwiches and pasta a couple hours earlier. Everything else was ready to go and just ready to be served.
Use what you have
I used several platters and bowls I already had to serve the dips, nuts, fruits. So I didn’t have to buy aluminium or plastic serving platters.
Be creative
To bring everything down to the park, I wrapped the dips and pasta with beeswax wrap and all the rest in an esky and a large basket to make it simple. I brought down some extra glasses as I offered tea and water for those who weren’t drinking.
Choose reusable/sustainable
The one thing I had to buy, was serving plates and cutlery as I didn’t have enough to accomodate all my guests, so I found a compostable wood option at our local Kmart (had to recycle the packaging as it comes in plastic) but I brought them back home to compost.
Save it for next time
Some things were good to go for a next time, so I saved them and I’ll reuse for another time, like leftover cutlery and plates.
Don’t be so hard on yourself
Waste happens and sometimes it can be very, very difficult to avoid it. As much as I tried to avoid waste some things were simply not available without plastic. And also, people brought down presents and food or drinks which produced waste. But I honestly was really happy to have all my friends and loved ones close to me to celebrate and that’s what matters.

It was also such a great conversation starter as people noticed all the reusable and eco-friendly options and were really interested in knowing more on how to make better choices. Plus, my friends know me too well and I was spoiled by so many sustainable and thoughtful gifts!

All in all, it’s possible to create a party with little waste and great memories, you just gotta be a little creative!