Sustainable celebrations for happier holidays
Clothes shopping, gift wrapping, haircuts, makeup appointments, indulgent feasts... It’s that time of year again! Holiday get-togethers are fast approaching, and with Christmas parties come lots of food, drink, fun and, sadly, 43% more waste—about half of which is food-related (source).
While the end-of-year office party is a good time to celebrate everything you and your team have accomplished together (and let's face it: just getting through these past couple of years has been an accomplishment in itself!), it’s also a good time to reflect on the direct impacts you've collectively had on the environment, and how you can do better moving forward.
'Tis the season to hit refresh on wasteful habits and improve your green credentials. Why not start by rethinking your upcoming Christmas parties!
Curb food waste this festive season
To celebrate is to eat, and food is a big part of any holiday event. But food inequality and waste are major issues that people are facing worldwide right now. Luckily, you can still have a party with all the trimmings while cutting down on waste. Here's how:
Keep it local: Contribute to the buy local movement by sourcing sustainable, in-season foods as much as possible. Bring the farm-to-table experience to guests by supporting family-run or small-scale farms that pride themselves on sustainable farming practices.
Ration it: Instead of serving excessive multi-course meals, set up different stations serving bite-sized portions.
Share the love: Choose food options that can be reheated, served cold or frozen so that you can donate what’s left to local homeless shelters, or even let guests bring home leftovers in reusable containers. (Tip: branded food containers are a great idea for company swag that can double as handy employee Christmas gifts!)
Other ways to curb waste
Transportation: If public transport isn’t an option on the night of your office party, arrange for carpooling with colleagues if possible.
Gift exchanges: A no-waste-themed Secret Santa is a fun excuse to get creative, regift and upcycle without shame. For example, handy household items like reusable sandwich bags make for excellent gift wrapping!
Reuse it:
Did you know that 540,000 tonnes of gift bags and wrapping paper are thrown out each year, with the holiday season being a major culprit (source)? Hold on to those gift bags, ribbons, wrapping paper and tissue paper for future presents.
Choose dinnerware responsibly: go for reusable over single-use materials.
Can’t wait to swap your loungewear for festive evening wear? Neither can we! But if you absolutely need a new party outfit, get something practical that you’ll want to wear over and over again.
Give back: Set up a food drive, clothing drive, toy drive or other charitable collection of items before the holidays that people in need can benefit from.
Eat, drink and be merry – just be mindful and not wasteful.
Our everyday actions have an impact at all levels, and even more so during the festive season. When you commit to helping fight waste, you not only save food and materials, but time and money. The planet will thank you, and so will your wallet!
At Probity Marketing, we’re committed to responsible consumption and are always looking for ways to give back. Read more about our impact and sustainability journey.
Happy Holidays, from our team to you!
