Planning events can feel overwhelming when it comes to waste management. But imagine throwing a gathering that positively impacts the environment, leaving no trace behind! Zero waste events are designed to do just that, by minimising waste through smart practices like reducing materials at the source, reusing resources, and responsibly processing leftovers.
Whether you’re planning a birthday party, a corporate conference, or a lively community festival, we’ll equip you with the knowledge and tools to significantly reduce or even eliminate waste from your event, making it a truly sustainable celebration!
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Ditch the disposables, embrace reusables
Say no to single-use plastic at your event! Half of all plastic produced each year is designed to be used just once, often ending up in our oceans, threatening marine life and potentially outweighing fish by 2050. Instead, make a splash for all the right reasons! Choose reusable plates, cutlery, and decorations and reduce the need from extracting our natural resources.
Location matters! Choose venues that care
Choose venues with built-in recycling and composting systems. This streamlines sorting for your guests, as clear and well-labelled stations guide them to divert their waste responsibly. By doing so, you give it a second life instead of a one-way trip to the landfill, minimising your event’s environmental impact.
Go local, go green, go delicious
Source Locally
Choose local, seasonal, and organic ingredients whenever possible. This significantly reduces CO2 emissions associated with food transportation.
Minimise food waste with pre-orders or buffets, and consider donating leftovers to local charities such as City Harvest.
Understand your food
Harnessing innovative technology like Orbisk at your event, you can gain granular insights into your food waste down to the ingredient level. This empowers you to close the loop between waste and procurement, potentially saving thousands of pounds and minimising your environmental footprint.
Tech that tackles waste, naturally
Another piece of technology that can help you reduce your carbon footprint is the ORCA digester. Using a natural digestion process, the ORCA efficiently breaks down your food waste and safely disposes of it through your waste pipe. This eliminates the need for food waste collections, reducing vehicle emissions and waste collection costs.
Glass: recycle, reuse, or get crushed!
Many events involve glass, from celebratory bottle pops to elegant wine sipping. Unfortunately, unrecycled glass ends up in landfills, where it can take a million years to decompose. This is a shame, as glass is 100% recyclable. Make sure to recycle your glass!
Glassloop offers a solution for event facilities. This glass crusher compacts glass into “cullet,” reducing its size by 80%. This means 5 times fewer glass collections, leading to lower costs and a smaller environmental footprint.
Paperless is the way to go Avoid printing
Opt for digital documents and QR codes to reduce paper consumption, protect natural resources, and let guests scan the code for instant access to menus and event brochures!
Communication is key: everyone plays a part
Ensure that all parties involved, including guests, vendors, and volunteers, are informed about your zero waste objectives and their role in achieving them, encouraging active participation to collectively strive towards zero waste.
In a nutshell
This guide is your starting point. Remember, every small step counts, and your awesome zero waste event can inspire others to do the same. Go green, have fun, and create memories that last, not waste that doesn’t!
