When hosting an event that involves food, there’s a lot to consider.
Is my food-prep space considering nut allergies? Do we have enough forks? Are tacos just a bit last year?
But among the logistics and the plateauing taco trend is a great opportunity to give your food production and distribution model an ethical overhaul. Whether it’s what you’re serving, or how you’re serving it, there are many opportunities in the event catering space to choose sustainable products and processes.
Here are five really easy ways you can make that happen.
Choose biodegradable cutlery and plates
Plastic plates and cutlery are a thing of the past. Companies such as Biopak are leading the way producing great wooden, sugarcane, paper, and bamboo items; as well as using other innovative upcycled materials.
Think they will be more expensive than the traditional plastic alternative? Not so. A carton of 500 large sugarcane plates costs just $54.80 AUD, which works out to just over 10c a plate. Plus, they donate 7.5% of their overall profits to environmental restoration initiatives. Plastic free AND guilt free – and check out these cute designs!
Separate out your normal garbage from the recycling.
Depending on your location, the local council will probably provide several normal and recycling bins. However, it’s always a great idea to supply more if you can.
Third party waste management agencies can step in and arrange not only the bins, but also the rubbish removal for your event. Alternatively, companies such as MaxiSort provide plastic, reusable bin covers that can visually separate out your recycling bins from the normal bins at the venue.
Find locally sourced produce.
The benefits to buying local produce are vast: you’re saving the planet from trucking and shipping pollution, you’re supporting local farmers and the local economy, all the while buying fresh and preservative-free produce for your customers.
If you’re catering for an event, chances are you will be buying in bulk – and most (if not all) local farmers happily offer discounts for large purchases. It’s a great narrative for your brand, too! People love to know where their food has come from, and why you chose it. Include the ‘locally sourced’ tag in your event marketing, and promote the farms and farmers you bought it from.
Opting for local produce has benefits for the environment, your local economy, and your brand.
Choose a location with natural ventilation.
One of the greatest costs at a large-scale event is controlling the temperature. And in Australia, this generally means cooling the crowd down. If you are cooking on site, find a spot with natural ventilation, as it will save you on exhaust fans and air conditioning.
Going outdoors saves the environment from the massive electricity costs that comes with commercial cooling systems, saves you the loud machinery, and gives you the chance to utilise solar-powered equipment, too.
Make it easy to ditch the car.
Another thing to consider when choosing the location of your event is the accessibility of public transport. If you find a venue that’s close to train, bus, or ferry stations, you can encourage guests to leave the car at home.
If you are a licensed event, being able to offer your guests a space in which they can safely enjoy a drink is a great attraction – just make sure you include simple public transport instructions in your event invite.
Having an outdoor location allows for natural ventilation, saving you from needing large cooling or heating machinery. (Image via Twenty20)
Aligning your event with ethical and sustainable practices is a crucial part of establishing your brand narrative. More and more, it has become an expectation from younger generations that an event will be considering its environmental impact.
Far from being extra work or extra cost, making sustainable choices in your event setup is more about adjusting your expectations about how events can work.
From your food to your staff, cutlery to waste management, it’s up to you to make responsible choices at your next event.
No recycling bin? No good! Check out our blog on the 10 Common Event Disasters and How to Address Them before creating your next event.
