Hosting a Sustainable Dinner Party

You know it’s party season when the cooling racks never get put away…

Don't panic, but it's almost party season, people. In the inevitable hustle and bustle of the holidays, it can be easy to throw sustainability out the window, but it doesn’t have to be that way. In this post, I'll give you the best tips for hosting a sustainable dinner party.

Don't overcook

Let's face it. There is always way too much food at dinner parties. I'm not saying you should starve your guests or allow for zero leftovers, I'm just saying you should be reasonable.

If you're serving eight people, you don't need to make portions for 16. You can find most serving sizes online, so don't guess and end up cooking way too much - just search it up on the Googs.

Use real dinnerware for a small crowd

Real dinnerware will not only make your party classy as heck, but it will also make it super sustainable. Using real dishes means less waste, which always a sustainability win.

I know doing dishes is a pain, but if you're serving less than 20 people, your dishwasher (or hands) can most def handle the cleanup. Plus, you don't have to do it alone! Every dinner party has that one person who will insist on helping the host clean up. Gratefully accept their help and save the world one real dish at a time.

Use compostable dinnerware for a large crowd

If you're serving more than 20 people, using disposable dishes is reasonable, as long as they're compostable! Compostable dinnerware will cut down on waste because it biodegrades much (much much much) more quickly than plastic dinnerware.

The only issue with compostable dinnerware is that it's more expensive than the plastic stuff and it usually can't be composted in a reasonable amount of time in your backyard.

Depending on the materials used to make your compostable dinnerware, it could take years to compost in your personal compost heap. However, this will vary depending on the material, so it's best to research your plates and cups before buying (or just use real dinnerware).

If your compostable dinnerware can't be composted at home, you could take it to a community compost drop-off or request a compost pickup service. These composting services are wildly different in different areas, so just research your area to find the best option.

Compost the scraps

Just because your plates can't be composted doesn't mean your food scraps can't be! Asking your guests compost their scraps will keep that food from sitting in landfills and releasing nasty greenhouse gases like methane. Instead, it can turn back into the soil and make your garden thrive.

No need to have your guests walk outside to your compost heap: just set up a separate bag or container and ask them to chuck their scraps in there rather than in the garbage can. Then, you can empty the container into your composter after the party. Easy peasy!

Dish leftovers into reusable containers

Don't use Ziploc bags and plastic wrap to package leftovers! Instead, save take-out containers or larger food packages (think: those 24 oz yogurt containers) starting a few weeks before the party, and then pack leftovers into those.

This way, you'll be producing less waste AND your guests don't have to worry about returning your reusable containers. They can simply recycle the containers when they're done. This gives your cheap plastic containers a second life and is p dang convenient for your guests.