Dinner parties are a beautiful way of getting together with your loved ones. Sitting together, having a nice meal, and fun conversations - what could possibly be better? The thing about dinner parties, however, is that they can cause lots of waste. But all that waste is unnecessary and can be avoided easily! Keep reading to find some easy tips on how to organise a sustainable dinner party.
Food & Drinks
Let's start with the most important part of the night: food and drinks. You're throwing a dinner party and you want your loved ones to enjoy a meal cooked with love and care. To be more sustainable with your food choices, try choosing natural ingredients that are in season and locally sourced. If you're not sure which vegetables are growing around this season in your area, a quick Google search or visit to your local farmer's market can help. Foods like dairy or meat have a high carbon footprint, so you could try cooking a meal that's entirely plant-based.
Furthermore, plan your menu beforehand, so you won't cook large amounts of food that won't get eaten. Shop only what you need and think about how many guests you will have and how much they will eat. Even if you have leftovers, they do not have to turn into food waste. Store them in reusable containers in your fridge and eat them the next day or give your guests some leftovers to go. If you have lots of leftovers, freezing them is a great way to preserve the food, so you can eat it at a later time.
When it comes to drinks, opt for drinks served from glass bottles instead of plastic. Instead of serving drinks with plastic stirrers, offer natural decorations and edible garnishes, such as orange and lemon slices or mint.
Decorations
Some dinner parties have themes, others don't. However, decorations are always an important topic. After all, you want your dinner to be tasty and aesthetic. Opt for decorations you have at home and get creative with things that may have been stored away unused for too long. If you want to decorate with flowers, try potted plants that you can replant in your garden after the dinner party.
When it comes to lighting, opt for LED lights to enhance the ambiance of the evening. If you want to buy new decorations, opt for pieces that you know you will reuse more than once! After all, decorations aren't cheap and you want your money to be well spent. Natural decorations such as orange slices, dried flowers, or leaves will also add a special flair to your dinner table while staying plastic free.
Kitchenware
When it comes to kitchenware, ditch the disposables! Although they can have great designs for theme parties, opting for reusable alternatives is much better for the environment. It might be worth investing in some stunning porcelain kitchenware or some quality wooden kitchen utensils - you can reuse them for any future dinner parties. Simplistic designs also go with many themes and can be incorporated into any decoration style.
Let Your Guests Contribute
When sending out your invitations (make them digital!), let your guests know that the party is sustainable and let them contribute their own ideas. After all, sustainability is something we need to do together!
And remember: sustainability is not about perfection! Not every single aspect of your dinner party has to be eco-friendly - it's great if you're just trying. Every small step towards sustainability is a step towards a better planet.