EASY TO ACCESS H2-ecocomm-V1 Host Sustainable Party User Guide

What?
Want to host your very own sustainable party, but not sure where to start? With the help of our handy how-to guide, explore ways to make your event sustainable, from invites, to food, decorations and gifts.

Why?
Parties are often ﬁlled with single-use plastics and end up being considerably wasteful in a variety of areas. By hosting a sustainable party, you could inspire more people to make sustainable choices and celebrate in a way that is good for you and the planet!

ORGANISING The Party

Invites

If you want to send out traditional paper invites, look for ones made of recycled card or printed using vegetable ink.
Feeling more creative? You could make your own invites at home using spare card and coloured pens. Handing them out without envelopes is a quick way to cut waste.

Go digital and send e-cards instead! Design your own or buy some online, and send them via email.

Ditch the plastic

Avoid single-use plastic plates and cups. If you need a large number of plates, cutlery, cups or glasses, you can source them from charity shops. Mismatched designs can look cool and funky! If you have parties regularly then buying a kit that can be reused is a sustainable choice.
Use the internet to see if there is a party rental company near you. They can rent out whole kits including decorations, games and more.

Try to cover food with cloth fabric or beeswax wrap instead of clingﬁlm or tinfoil. You can also keep items in reused jars to cut waste.

SETTING UP THE PARTY

Food

Try to source vegetarian alternatives to party favourites like sausage rolls or mini pizzas. You could even consider having a vegan cake for the occasion.
Head to your local zero waste store to bulk-buy snacks. Ask others to contribute home-made food in reusable pots.

Consider what you will do if you have food left over. Could you make up small parcels of food for guests to take home using old Tupperware containers?

DECORATIONS

Try out reusable or paper balloons. You could also make your own paper chains and reusable bunting from old clothes.
If buying new decorations, try to buy them in generic colours or designs so that they can be reused for different events. You could use fairy lights that you already own, for example.

Don’t be afraid to ask others! Why not set up a group where you could reuse each other’s decorations? It’s a great way to cut costs and build community.

DURING THE Party

ACTIVITIES

Looking for waste-free games? You could try classics like Charades or Pictionary. If it’s an outside party, consider wooden games like cricket, ring-toss or croquet.
Ask friends to bring along games that they own in order to cut costs and make use of what you already have.

Up for something different? You could try other activities such as sustainable candle-making, baking or crafts.

EXTRA TIPS

Try making your own lemonade, juice or punch to avoid the plastics that most drinks containers come in.
Clearly signpost your recycling bins (and compost bin if you have one) to encourage guests to dispose of their waste correctly.
This will help cut the clean-up time too!
Avoid gift bags altogether, or reuse existing bags or jars with sustainable gifts such as home-baked cookies or soaps.

AFTER THE Party

Plan Ahead

Store any decorations from your party for the next time you or a friend host. Keep it all in one box so it is easy to ﬁnd next time! You could even start a Party Hire Kit yourself!
If there are any decorations that you no longer need, consider donating them to a charity shop or passing them on to someone else.
Think of ways in which you could use party planning to develop your community. Could you organise a swap for costumes, games, decorations or anything else?

GIFTS

To avoid receiving unwanted gifts, make a list of items that you would like or need. You could ask family to make a donation to charity or buy you an Another Way membership!
You could hand make them a gift, if you aren’t sure what to gift them. Consider buying them a voucher so they can buy a favourite book, outing or online course.
Wrap any gifts in newspaper or reuse gift bags that you have been given before to cut down on waste.

Party Checklist

Use this page to make a note of all of the things you need to HOST your sustainable party.

Join the movement..

Email: PowerOfTen@Another-Way.org.uk

For more info and downloadable packages

www.powerof10.earth

Once you swap you just can’t stop
www.powerof10.earth

for more resources on sustainable living

Documents / Resources

EASY TO ACCESS H2-ecocomm-V1 Host Sustainable Party [pdf] User Guide
H2-ecocomm-V1 Host Sustainable Party, H2-ecocomm-V1, Host Sustainable Party, Sustainable Party, Party

References

User Manual

EASY TO ACCESS H2-ecocomm-V1 Host Sustainable Party

Specifications

FAQ

How to HOST A SUSTAINABLE PARTY