Thinking about hosting an eco-friendly dinner party? Here are some practical tips to help with your planning. People are thinking about how they can do their part to help the environment now more than ever. There is a misconception that we should feel bad if we aren’t taking every waking moment to think of new ways to recycle and help the planet thrive. However, you can still live your life and make smart, eco-friendly decisions, even if you are hosting a dinner party.
If you are planning on having a good meal with your best friends, then consider these tips for a more eco-friendly dinner party.
Be Mindful Of Location & Invitations
The first big decision you should make is where you hope to host your dinner party. If you have a large group, you may be tempted to rent out a restaurant or a hall. However, a large space will likely use a lot of electricity. Further, people may have to drive a long distance to get there, creating unnecessary pollution.
If weather permits and you have a large backyard, then consider hosting the party back there. There will be plenty of room to sit and mingle. Have the dinner party in the early evening so everyone can see their food and the other guests without the need for overhead lights. Afterward, you can set up a dancefloor on the lawn or your deck for extra fun.
If you plan to invite a lot of people to this soiree, then opt out of the paper invites that add to the number of cut-down trees and will likely be thrown away anyway. Instead, just text each guest or send an e-invitation via email or Facebook. With digital invitations, there is little to no waste.
Use Eco-Friendly Decorations
Many people try to have a theme for their dinner parties, but that leaves a lot of potential to go over the top on the decorations. Instead, you can make it simple and promote it as a chance for you and your best friends to have fun and get better acquainted. If you’d like to have a theme or decorate, you can still do so in eco-friendly ways.
To continue to be eco-friendly, research the best sustainable party decoration options. Look for balloons that are made of biodegradable latex and use real flowers as centerpieces so they can be composted later on. If you do decide to buy some standard decorations, then find some that look nice but have a general theme. This way, you can repurpose them for dinner parties in the future.
You will also want to be smart about your dishes and silverware for your outdoor dinner party. To really make a difference, don’t use disposable dinnerware. Instead, use plates and glasses that you can wash and use time and time again. You may opt to use cloth napkins for that same reason.
You may also consider purchasing fair trade ceramics for your bowls and decorative dishes. The fair trade label means that they are made with special standards to ensure that they are sustainable and constructed in safer, more ethical working conditions.
Be Thoughtful With The Food & Drinks
When it comes to food and drinks, the goal continues to be to create as little waste as possible. As an idea, ask everyone what they like to eat ahead of time so that you only make the foods you know people will enjoy. You also can cut down on the electricity used when preparing dishes that otherwise wouldn’t be touched. The same goes for drinks and alcohol. Ask ahead of time or let everyone bring their drink of choice so they can bring home what they don’t consume.
Even better, you can host a potluck-style party where your guests supply what they like to eat and bring home what is left over. They can bring these food items in reusable casserole dishes and other glass or ceramic containers. If you have a caterer, then ask if you can provide your own serving dishes to avoid the use of harmful plastic or styrofoam.
It is also a good idea to prepare seasonal dishes with ingredients that are available at that time of the year. When you prepare food from ingredients that are available seasonally, you eliminate the need for trucks to create pollution as they deliver what you need from hundreds of miles away. On top of that, food also tastes better when it is local because it is not prepackaged and loaded with chemicals. You’re not only helping the environment, but you’re adding a healthy flair for your party guests.
A sustainable dinner party is well within reach. Consider these tips, add your own flair, and you will create an event that your guests will remember forever.
Photography by Annie Spratt
