How to Throw a Zero-Waste Holiday Party

The last three months of the year bring upon an excuse for fanfare and fun at a much frequent rate than the rest of the year. But a pile of single-use discarded bottles, cardboard boxes, and plastic cutlery also tends to accumulate at the same rate. So with a bigger emphasis on zero-waste living making its mark on every facet of our lives, how can we throw a good party that doesn’t involve a trip to the trash bin or recycling bin right after? We asked zero-waste experts, Kathryn Kellogg, founder of Going Zero Waste and author of 101 Ways to Go Zero Waste; and Anita Vandyke, a rocket scientist and author of A Zero Waste Life: In Thirty Days, for their tips on how to have a zero-waste party.

1. Work With Nature For Decor

“Use what the seasons and Mother Earth have provided you with. I fully believe the most beautiful decorations are decorations from outside like flowers, herbs, twigs, produce, etc. When the event is over, they can be composted or eaten. There is no need to buy plastic junk from a party supply store. On Thanksgiving, I like to even use mini pumpkins as place settings.” — Kellogg

2. Buy Second-hand

“You can get second-hand crystal vases and candle holders for less than $5 a piece. This makes a lovely table setting for Christmas dinners and get-togethers. No need to buy plastic decorations for the holiday season!” — Vandyke

3. Plan a Seasonal Menu

“Whenever I am planning a party, I start thinking about my menu a couple of weeks in advance based on what is in season. The week before my party, I like to check with the farmers at the farmer’s market to make sure that the ingredients I need will be available for the party.” — Kellogg

4. Keep it Real

“All of my parties have real plates, real cups, real dishes, and even cloth napkins. I know that it can seem daunting, but I promise it actually makes clean up faster. I have found that with real dishes, people respect them a lot more. They are much more likely to hold on to their cups and dishes, and they are not going to set it down, forget about it and grab another one. Just make sure to start the party with an empty dishwasher and washing machine. At the end of the night, you can load everything up and wake up to clean dishes and napkins in the morning. If you don’t have a dishwasher, take your friends up on their offer to help you clean! I don’t have a dishwasher, and we always made a second little party out of clean up.” — Kellogg

5. Get Creative With Wrapping Paper

“No need for single-use wrapping paper that is literally ripped up and then discarded after one use, try these three wrapping ideas instead:

• Wrap presents using a scarf, handkerchief or cloth napkin. Not only does it look chic, but it also works as an added gift too!
• Wrap presents using newspaper — make it look luxe by adding ribbon or twine.
• Add vintage brooches to decorate. They are often less than $2 a piece and make a present even more special!

An added tip is adding natural elements to your wrapping such, as eucalyptus leaves, evergreen ferns or flowers! They look stunning and are totally compostable too. Let your creativity go wild!” — Vandyke

6. Keep it Simple

“You don’t have to go overboard for parties. I always have to pull myself back because I over-buy food, over-commit to making too much, and make things way more complicated than they have to be. Buy less food than you think you need! (You will still have leftovers.). Not everything has to be complex. Sometimes it is nice just to let good ingredients shine. If I have under 10 people, I go for a dinner party and keep the sides very, very simple. If I have over 10 people coming then, I do finger food which prevents me from having to wash a lot of dishes. With finger food, you want to have 12 bites per person.” — Kellogg

7. Buy From the Bulk Bins

“By opting for lots of fresh fruit or produce, I can easily keep things zero waste. I also like to buy nuts and chocolates from the bulk bins, and I like to hit up the deli to grab olives or other party platter foods.” — Kellogg

8. Send Digital Invitations

Perhaps one of the easiest ways to curb trash: send or text invites digitally instead of printing them on paper and mailing them out. This way, you can set the tone for the rest of your guests and get them into a zero-waste party mindset.

9. Borrow Liberally

The week before the party, check with your friends and family about plates, cutlery, dishes, glasses and more that you can borrow for the party. After all, most of them are collect dust in attics until this part of the year. Also, check on borrowing cloth napkins, if you don’t already have them. These are much more durable than paper napkins.

10. Clean Out Your Fridge and Eat the Leftovers

In the week leading up to the party, consume the food in your fridge to make room to store these leftovers. And if you are not going to consume all the food, encourage guests to bring glass or aluminum bowl to take it home or donate the food to shelters.