How To Center Sustainability At Your Catered Event
Embracing a sustainable lifestyle means more than simply recycling from time to time. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), sustainable lifestyles involve ways of living that “minimize environmental degradation (use of natural resources, CO2 emissions, waste and pollution) while supporting equitable socio-economic development and better quality of life for all.” A sustainable lifestyle incorporates environmentally conscious thinking into all areas of life.
Small, sustainable changes can add up over time, especially in daily activities like eating. Making food-related choices that lessen environmental impact at mealtimes can contribute to your goals of pursuing sustainability. Though you can make these changes with your ordinary, self-prepared meals, you can still strive toward sustainability even when hosting a special, catered event with many guests.
Sustainability in catering focuses on sourcing, producing and serving great dining to guests while respecting the environmental, economic and social impacts. Dedicated professional caterers can help execute your event vision while endeavoring to meet your sustainability goals. If you are striving to live sustainably when hosting your next catered gathering or large party, consider implementing the tips below.
Offer Seasonal Menus
For a more mindful approach to resource usage at your catered event, request that your meals incorporate in-season food. Seasonal foods can make use of natural weather conditions that support their growth. By working with your caterer to select naturally available foods for your event, you can capitalize on the local seasonal abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables. As a further tasty benefit, seasonally available foods may also provide the freshest flavors since in-season foods are harvested at their prime ripeness.
Serve Local Foods
Another way to have a sustainably minded event is to incorporate local food. Purchasing and serving local foods can support nearby farmers and businesses, contributing to the local marketplace and economic sustainability. Serving locally sourced offerings can also give your guests the social benefit of feeling connected to their immediate community. Local produce may also be fresher than items that have traveled from many miles away.
Use Biodegradable, Compostable or Reusable Servingware
To help center sustainability at your next catered event, consider using reusable serving dishes, like glass or ceramic, that can be washed for future uses. Reusable, elegant drinkware can help elevate special drinks, like refreshing summer cocktails, that you may serve at your gathering. If your event instead requires disposable dishes and drinkware, consider compostable or biodegradable material. Unlike plastic, these items completely decompose more easily. Additionally, you can place recycling bins around your venue to encourage resourceful waste disposal and conversations about sustainability at the event.
Swap Out Plastic Water Bottles
You can further spotlight sustainability at your event by swapping out single-use plastic water bottles for alternatives. If your event includes food service at tables, you can use reusable drinkware, such as glass cups, with glass water pitchers so guests can refill their drinks. You can also serve canned water as a disposable and sustainably minded alternative. Canned water often comes in an aluminum package, like soda cans, that can be recycled after consumption.
Strive to Reduce Food Waste
To focus on sustainability at your next catered event, consider steps you and your caterer can take to reduce food waste. As a starting point, particularly when planning a large catering event, ensure your headcount is correct and is as exact as possible. If you know how many guests are coming and how much they expect to eat, you can work with your caterer to better prepare and portion the right amount of food. With a “Goldilocks” or “just right” approach to serving your guests, you can help reduce the amount of uneaten and disposed food. You can also work with your caterer to determine whether buffet or plated meals would reduce food waste for your event. Your caterer can help advise on their best practices for reducing wasted resources at the end of your party or gathering.
Partner with a Sustainability-Focused Caterer
To implement the above tips, search for a caterer that focuses on sustainability without sacrificing high-quality cuisine and beautiful presentation. Cotton Culinary, for example, focuses on providing superior special event catering that incorporates sustainability into its menus. When planning events and serving guests, the culinary artists at Cotton select vegetable options that will be in season for that time of year. Additionally, Cotton Culinary currently offers biodegradable servingware options with materials like bamboo or palm leaf as well as a cost-effective option made from recycled materials. China, flatware and glassware rentals are also available for reusable servingware. Cotton is ready to work with clients’ needs and expectations to translate their vision of sustainability into a reality, from providing canned water to choosing fresh seasonal foods.
Your caterer can make all the difference as you strive toward a sustainability-focused special event. Your catered event does not have to come at the expense of your focus on environmental, economic and social impacts. By partnering with a caterer willing to execute your vision and incorporating the above tips, you can help contribute to your goal of a more sustainable world, one catered event at a time.
