SUSTAINABLE WAYS TO SERVE FOOD AND DRINK AT YOUR CELEBRATION

Your hen's party is meant to leave a lasting memory (and impression), but that doesn't mean it has to leave a lasting impact on the planet.

Whether you're hosting a dinner, a garden party or a picnic, food and drink products are sure to feature. Sadly, one-third of all food produced is lost or wasted. Food and drinks are also one of the main sources of plastic waste each year.

Luckily, your hen's night can steer clear of these stats with some sustainable practices. So, what are some sustainable ways to serve food and drink at your event - from start to finish?

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Related: Eco Party 'How To'
​Related: Eco-Friendly Decorations
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Choose Reusable Materials or Eco Disposables

When we think party hosting, we think lots of plastic cups, straws and plates. These disposables end up in landfills where they take hundreds of years to decompose.

Reusable drink and food ware is a great way to not only save plastic, but level-up your party's look and your guests' experience.



STRAWS
No matter what drinks you're serving and how, you'll want to have straws. But instead of plastic straws, choose the reusable kind. This will allow you to add a pop of colour and luxury to your drinks. Reusable rose gold straws are a top pick for creating photo-worthy drinks.

Pictured: Rose Gold Reusable Straw available at Sassy Organics

WATER STATIONS
Rather than supplying bottled water, set up drink stations; made up of reusable glasses, reusable bottles and pitches of water. If you would like to offer a variety of beverages, pitches of mocktails, cocktails or even juices can be set up on the table as well.

Related: DIY Drink Stations



​REUSABLE CUPS & CUTLERY

If you're hosting a garden party, a picnic or anything a little outdoorsy, you'll want to get reusable wine tumblers.

​These are perfect for outdoor entertaining as they're spill proof and easy to carry around. The Cheeki reusable wine tumblers are great as they keep drinks cooler for longer too. You'll find you use these again and again after your party - they work for kids, desserts and any outdoor family events you'll host or attend in the future.

We all know that plastic cutlery is terrible for our planet, but what are your other options when hosting? Reusable bamboo cutlery sets are a great option for your party guests. If your event allows it, you can also use regular reusable cutlery to save on plastic and waste.
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​Handy Tip:
Don't have enough reusable drinkware on hand? Encourage guests to bring their own reusable bottles or glasses to be used throughout the celebration.

Pictured: Reusable Wine Tumblers & Bamboo Cutlery Sets from Sassy Organics

​DISPOSABLE OPTIONS
Sometimes you just need to use a disposable option - we get it. But this doesn't mean you have to go for plastic.

If you need single use plates and bowls, try looking for bamboo, compostable and/or biodegradable options. Disposable bamboo food and drinkware also looks nicer than its white plastic counterparts, so win-win.

​If you don't want to use metal straws, then opt for paper. Again, paper straws are more stylish than plastic and you can pick a colour scheme that suits your party.
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​REUSABLE FOOD BOXES

Reusable food boxes like stainless steel bento boxes can be a great way to pack up and bring food to your event. But they can also be a unique serving idea.

If you're having an outdoorsy hen-do, you could prepare delicious bento boxes for all of your guests and create a favour bag with their box, wine tumbler, straw and reusable cutlery travel set.

Pictured: A Bento Box available at Sassy Organics

​Use What You Own & Buy Second-Hand

We're all guilty of rushing out to buy new before stopping to take stock of what we already own.

You or someone you know probably already owns an amazing table cloth or runner, or even a dinner party crockery set you could use.

If not, then why not try second-hand first?

Op shops are a great place to find things like tablecloths, centrepieces, place mats and anything else you might like to use to add personality to your party. You can even find amazing drink and food ware at op shops that you wouldn't find new in the shops today.

Shopping second-hand, borrowing or using what you own is a great way to reduce consumption and promote a more circular economy.

Related: Eco Friendly Decorations

​Shop Local & Fresh Produce

Okay, so what about the food you're serving?

If you can, shop local and small, as this will automatically mean you're supporting the local economy. A farmers' market, and fresh fruits and vegetables in general, is a great option. Shopping fresh and at the local market will mean you use less plastic packaging and in turn create less packaging waste.

Also be mindful to not buy too much food. This is a common problem for any party host - the just-in-case mentality - is what sees so much food waste at the end of the event.

​Related: Grazing Platter DIY

​Don't Let Anything Go To Waste

If you've got leftovers, package them up in reusable containers (like stainless steel bento boxes) and give them to your guests. Yep, your delicious food doubles as a party favour!

You could also make up boxes for your neighbours.

If there are any leftover ingredients and sealed food items, you can donate them to a local shelter or charity.

​Dispose of Everything Properly

Just as important as how you serve your food is how you dispose of any scraps or waste. There are plenty of ways you can keep your waste and scraps out of landfill.

Firstly, compost. If you have a compost at home or a local compost, drop off any food scraps there as this will ensure they get turned into healthy soil for future plants.

Be sure to dispose of any compostable or biodegradable items in the right way (read the instructions) as they won't decompose in landfill.

And be sure to rinse out your recyclables before tossing in the recycling bin.

No matter what sort of hen's party you're planning or the food you'll be serving, there are plenty of ways to make it as sustainable as possible. So you can party on and​ protect the planet!

Articles Related to These Sustainable Food & Drink Ideas

​REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE:

How do we host a memorable event without costing the earth? This 'Reduce, Reuse, Recycle' article provides you with absolutely everything you need to know to pull off an amazing (eco) event that everyone will love!

Click here to read the article now.

​ECO FRIENDLY DECORATIONS:

Are you planning an event and after eco party decorations as an alternative to the regular single-use supplies? This article will help you host a visually appealing celebration (stylish, colourful and fun), with less waste!

Click here to read the article now.

Author Bio: Sassy Organics

ALL-NATURAL, VEGAN & ORGANIC ECOMMERCE STORE
Aida Rejzovic is the proud founder of Sassy Organics - an all-natural, vegan and organic eCommerce store, committed to helping others adopt a healthier and more considered lifestyle. After battling some serious health issues, Aida discovered the power of organic living. She started Sassy Organics to share the benefits with others and make shopping natural, eco and organic products effortless.

Website: www.sassyorganics.com.au

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Email: [email protected]

P.S. The image below is perfect for Pinterest... Go on and share these wonderful, sustainable food and drink ideas - you know you want to! :)