While we all try our best to create memorable parties and enjoyable events, it’s important that we also consider the impact that parties have on the environment. And with food being one of the biggest aspects of any party, it’s always a major focus when it comes to saving the environment.
In this guide, we’ll focus on several ways you can enhance sustainability with your party food.
Start with a Sustainable Venue
The first thing you need to do is select a sustainable venue. This is because the venue you select for a party serves as the template for everything, including the food. If you’ve ordered food from the venue, you will need it prepared in an eco-friendly manner to match your moral values. And if the venue doesn’t share your ethos, this will hugely cut down on your efforts.
When assessing party venues London, look at things such as the venue’s energy efficiency measures and renewable energy sources. If it has solar power as one of its energy sources, this will go a long way in reducing the carbon footprint. You can also look at venues that prioritise waste reduction, recycling, and composting practices. These play a huge role in eco-friendliness.
Choose Local and Seasonal Ingredients
When it comes to the food itself, one of the best ways you can reduce the carbon footprint of your party food is by sourcing it locally. This is because, besides supporting local farmers, you also reduce the environmental impact involved in food transportation. You can source such products by looking at markets that sell food produced within the UK, which means you will need to forgo that avocado salad.
On top of local foods, give higher priority to ingredients that are readily available during the time of your event. These types of food will let you enjoy more freshness, flavour and nutrition while avoiding wastage.
Prioritise Plant-Based Options
Giving priority to plant-based options goes a long way in promoting sustainability. This is because these types of foods usually require fewer natural resources, produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions, and have a lower environmental footprint compared to animal-based products.
If plant-based items are more dominant in your menu, this won’t impact the appeal or enjoyability of your food. In fact, it will let your guests enjoy the versatility provided by vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, fruits and seeds. You can get creative here, from the appetisers to the main course. You can also work with your chef to craft a plant-based menu with only a few meat-based items, if any.
Minimise Food Waste
Wasted food contributes to the degradation of the environment, and it actually accounts for a significant percentage of greenhouse emissions. This means that you need a plan for ensuring that you reduce wastage, all the way from ordering ingredients to serving and dealing with leftovers. To get started, get a clear number of the guests you expect, as this will help you avoid preparing excess food.
For the event, you can consider offering small plates to ensure that guests only take what they can eat. Alternatively, you can have the caterers serve controlled portions that fit the number of guests. If there are any leftovers, you can consider containing charitable organisations or local composting facilities.
Reduce Packaging Waste
Food and drink packaging account for over 80% of the UK’s plastic waste, so you need to minimise it. Start with ingredient packaging that avoids single-use plastics and disposables. This should then extend to the serving, where you should avoid single-use utensils. Ideally, make a plan for reusable utensils as they won’t lead to any waste. If this is not viable, opt for compostable items made of materials such as bamboo or sugarcane. You can then ensure that your guests dispose of everything responsibly by providing disposable bins that are well-labelled. This way, you will be creating a more sustainable future for generations to come.
