Did you know the average person uses approximately 2.5 kg of waste everyday during the Christmas holiday period. Wow just wow!
But what if you could do something about it? What if we paused for a minute and thought about doing things a little different this year to save on waste going to landfill and lowering our carbon footprint.
Christmas is just around the corner and this is the ultimate guide
to eco – friendly party planning this Christmas.
Keep it local & support Perth businesses
We love supporting local businesses and you should too! Not only does supporting local mean that we’re supporting our fellow West Aussies, we’re also keeping the carbon footprint of our events lower by minimising unnecessary travel!
Our directory is the PERFECT platform to find everything you need to plan your Christmas party. All of our products and services are either low-tox, low waste, eco-friendly, sustainable or healthier versions and all from WA.
Send digital invites instead of posting printed invites via snail mail!
Our next tip is to send digital invites (if you can) or create a Facebook event, instead of posting printed invites via snail mail.
Of course, we all have people in our lives who don’t use social media or have an email address (Great Aunty Sue, we’re talking about you!), but you can always pick up the phone or pop by for a cuppa to share all the details!
If you have your heart set on printed invites, then the next tip is for you!
Choose plantable stationery & gifts!
Introducing an incredible Perth Business – EarthUs by Jojo! Their stationary is printed on 100% recycled card and embedded with native seeds.
You can order sustainable and affordable Christmas gifts, It’s such a beautiful concept – and you know that after your event your printed items will grow back into beautiful flowers.
Avoid single use items!
We’re all trying to reduce or completely avoid single-use packaging, serve ware & decorations so why not consider hiring? With some forethought, you can hire plates, glassware, furniture, decorations, and linen that are not only beautiful but also sustainable – and will leave a smaller carbon footprint!
If you’re planning a small event – you can use your own plates, mugs and glasses. If you’re short on a few items, why not head to your local second hand store and top up your collection for only a few dollars? You can always donate them again after your event.
For those planning bigger events, hiring is the perfect way to go! We have companies in our directory with party hire kits for plates, cups and cutlery as well as tablecloths, cake stands, tables, stools and more!
Thinking of including floral arrangements? Instead of farmed flowers, why not create your own fresh or dried arrangements? If you’re unsure how, YouTube will be your guide, and if you’re short on flowers you can always ask your neighbours or some of your closest friends/guests if they can bring some blooms from their garden!
If you would like to be even more sustainable and hire beautifully presented dried floral arrangements, we also have a floral business to take care of that for you! Check them out on our directory.
Plan ahead to minimise food waste
Your menu is another way to ensure you’re nailing your eco-friendly party planning! Food is such an important part of any event, so here are some tips to minimise food waste:
- Ask your guests for their dietary preferences when you send out your invitations, so you can plan your menu with this in mind!
- Set a realistic RSVP date to allow enough time to arrange accurate catering
- If you have people helping you serve food on the day, it’s always a good idea to have a chat with them ahead of time to make sure they’re on board with minimising food waste! Things you may want to mention could include the waste management plan, what to do with unopened left over foods, and simple tips like not cutting up fresh fruits, veggies or cheeses until they’re required… we know that nobody is going to touch the half-dried veggie sticks or crusty brie on a grazing board!
- Take some containers with you from home on the day, so that any leftover food can be taken home and enjoyed, rather than thrown out. Any unopened food or drinks can also be donated to local shelters and organisations.
You can also work with vendors who choose reusable packaging, such as Pressed Earth. Their juice is bottled in reusable glass, and each year around 100,000 glass bottles are returned to them to be washed, sterilised and refilled – meaning that you can return their juice bottles after the party!
Conscious cleaning supplies (and loo paper!)
Now that you’ve got your eco-friendly party or event planned, don’t forget to pack a few eco-friendly cleaning supplies.
Using reusable cloths instead of paper towels, sticking to green cleaning products such as dishwashing liquid and surface sprays, and even considering bringing your own eco-friendly toilet paper are some ways you can keep your event as eco-friendly as possible!
So there you have it, conscious friends…
Throwing an eco-friendly party or event doesn’t have to be stressful this Christmas. It’s easy and fun, and your guests will love you for it! Plus, you’ll be happy knowing that there’s less waste in the world.