Christmas is just a matter of weeks away, so many of you will be making plans to throw a festive party for your staff or customers.
But although Christmas is no doubt a time for celebration, which isn’t worth celebrating is the near-700,000 tonnes of waste that gets discarded every year!
If you want your Christmas party to have as little impact on the environment as possible, then thankfully there are ways to minimise your waste and ensure your get-together is as green and clean as possible.
So without further ado, here are seven ways to make this year’s Christmas party more environmentally-friendly.
Biodegradable Paper Cups
Nothing encapsulates the magic of Christmas quite like those delicious festive drinks. Whether you’re serving cups of cocoa, mulled wine or warm cider, your guests are in for a treat!
But with sustainability in mind and plastic off the menu, what should you serve these drinks in? Thankfully there are various biodegradable options to choose from that break down naturally and offer an eco-friendly alternative to plastic.
Guests can enjoy their delicious, heart-warming drinks and you’ll have peace of mind that the cups you’re serving them in won’t harm the environment or end up in a landfill for a few hundred years!
Glass Drinkware
As well as paper cups, another eco-friendly option is glass. Glass is a recyclable material, and using it reduces the need for single-use plastic cups. Additionally, it adds a touch of sophistication to your Christmas gathering and toasts with paper cups don’t quite carry the same allure!
That said, glass might not be suitable for all gatherings. If it’s just a little get-together then you might choose to avoid forking out for glassware and sticking to paper cups. It’s a matter of personal choice, really.
Recycled Wooden Cutlery
If you’re serving food then obviously you’ll need to provide cutlery for your guests. Assuming you don’t have any metal knives, forks and spoons then you’ll need to buy some before serving your food.
With plastic out, choose recycled wood cutlery instead. These utensils are made from sustainable sources (usually recycled wood) which makes them an excellent choice for a green Christmas get-together.
After your guests have finished using them, these utensils can be recycled.
Kraft Bags, Trays and Boxes
If you’re handing out goodie bags or takeaway options, consider kraft bags. These biodegradable paper bags mean you can send your guests home with some delicious treats without adding to the mounds of plastic waste accumulated every christmas.
A kraft food box or tray will also keep food fresh and stop it getting damaged while being carried. So as well as being 100% biodegradable and recyclable, kraft paper is also sturdy, which makes it a smart, eco-conscious choice.
Paper Plates
If ceramic plates are too costly or inconvenient, when it comes to serving festive meals at your Christmas party, choose eco-friendly paper alternatives.
Made from sustainable materials, these will also decompose with natural waste. So as well as being eco-friendly, they’re also convenient as they can be disposed of easily.
Eco-Friendly Decor
Another reason Christmas is such a scourge on the planet is the environmentally-destructive decorations. If you’re planning on pulling out all the stops at your party, buying eco-friendly decorations is another way you can reduce the impact of your party.
As well as providing biodegradable cups, platers, cutlery and bags, you should also extend this by including recyclable decorations. There are many paper or cardboard decorations you can choose from that are kind to the planet.
Choose ornaments, table centrepieces, and other decor made from recycled materials or natural elements. At the end of the evening, they can either be put away for next year or recycled with the rest of your party waste.
So that’s how you can make your party a greener affair. Although many Christmas celebrations create mass amounts of waste, it doesn’t always have to be this way. By using paper plates, cups and bags, as well as recycled cutlery, you can ensure you and your guests leave a minimal trace.
If you are throwing apathy and you’re in need of some environmentally-friendly packaging or cutlery, get in touch as we have many different options to suit all celebrations.
If you would like to find out more about how Elpack Packaging Solutions can assist your business, or discuss your bespoke packaging needs, get in touch with our expert team today! Call us on 01425 524021 or drop us an email at info@elpack.co.uk
