How to Host a Zero Waste Event

 How to host a Zero-Waste Event by Aadyaa Keyal

Don't we all love hosting or going to events? Catching up with friends and family,networking and eating all the delicious food served at these events is also a fun experience.  Do we actually realise how much waste we can produce by spending even an hour at parties? From those tiny plastic bottles we pick up to that tissue we use for less than a second ,they all go in the trash after use. Without realising we end up harming our planet even more. With the holiday season approaching there will be around 25% more waste created than the rest of the year. To minimise this ,let's do our part and try to host a Zero Waste event!

1. Planning the event:

Male digital invites with the help of templates available online. This looks trendy and you don't spend money on physical copies. The first step to every event is to plan. Make a list of single use plastic or disposable items you need to identify potential sources of waste and develop strategies to mitigate them. If you're not hosting at home,choose a venue that supports sustainability and has adequate recycling facilities.

2. Focus on reducing waste:

Opt for digital invitations and promotional materials instead of paper-based ones. Encourage guests to bring their reusable containers, bags, and water bottles. If the event is at home choose plates,napkins and glasses that look stylish and can be reused.  Avoid straws and offer metal straws if necessary.  If catering for food and beverages, select vendors that offer eco-friendly options, such as compostable or biodegradable packaging. Avoid single-use plastics, straws, and cutlery.

3. During the Event:

Ensure that waste is properly managed. Set up clearly labelled recycling and composting stations. Provide education and awareness about the importance of proper waste disposal. Encourage guests to participate in waste reduction efforts by offering leftovers and takeaways.  

4. Decor at the Venue:

When you're hosting at home,don't use balloons or banners that end up in the waste after the party. Balloons can be harmful for stray animals and small birds. Use what you have and don't hesitate to educate your friends about this.  If it's a hall,try asking for reusable banners as  decor. 

5. Gifts or Favours 

When you think about buying gifts and gift wrapping paper ,think about how the paper ends up getting trashed no matter how pretty it is. Instead of wasting money on this, opt for newspapers or reusable bags to give gifts in. Encourage participants to bring eco-friendly products or do a gift exchange with all the participants.  This way everyone gets a gift and you end up gifting while teaching others about  sustainability. 

6. After the event:

 Evaluate its success and identify areas for improvement. Conduct a waste audit to assess the effectiveness of your waste reduction strategies. Share your experiences and lessons learned with others to promote sustainability and inspire change.

After all, when you don't use single use plastic such as cutlery,balloons,gift wrappers you are reducing your budget and the waste created on this planet. When each one does our part we can surely inspire others to promote sustainability.  Events can be organised in an exciting and low waste manner too!