GREENER EVENTS
Small ways to make big events more eco-friendly.
Minimize Travel Miles to Your Event
Choose a location that minimizes travel for you and your guests. Ideally, locate on a TARC route and list the route or a link to the schedule on your invitation. Encourage your guests to carpool to your event. Ask your rented venue operator whether your catering options are restricted; if so, ask if any of those caterers offer reusable or compostable tableware.
Send Digital Invitations
Not only are paper invitations expensive, they require trees and energy to produce and mail. Next time you're planning an event, consider digital invitations. They're easy to personalize, yet cost fewer dollars and resources, lowering your carbon footprint, and more likely to get guests to RSVP. Nothing keeps you from printing paper invites for less tech savvy guests or to frame as a momento.
Avoid Plastics
Single-use plastic cups, plates, and utensils sit in landfills for many decades. If its a catered event, ask for low-waste options. If not, consider bringing, borrowing or renting reusable tableware. Or use biodegradable substitutes, such as bamboo, agave or wood utensils, bamboo chopsticks, paper cups and bagasse (sugar cane waste) plates -- all of which break down in local compost facilities.
Compost Food Waste, If Not Tableware
Food in a landfill creates methane gas, a greenhouse gas much worse than carbon dioxide. Would your caterer collect your event's food waste and compostable tableware and have it composted? If not, contact Network member Louisville Compost Co-op for containers and pick-up service. Post tasteful signs [pun intended] reminding guests not to place reusable utensils in the compost bins.
Serve Locally Produced Food & Beverages
Food tastes better when fresh and local! Buying from restaurants and markets selling local produce is good for areas’s economy, and has a smaller carbon footprint, since it doesn't travel 100s or 1,000s of miles. The Kentucky Proud website can help you find farm-fresh, and even organic produce. For smaller events, visit local farmers' markets. And don't forget locally produced beverages.
Decorate With Local Flowers
If decorating your tables with fresh flowers, ask your florist if they carry locally grown flowers. Better, ask for native wildflowers, such as Black-Eyed Susan, Goldenrod and Purple Coneflowers. If your event is out-of-season, consider dried Oak Leaf Hydranga blooms or potted plants (that you can send home with guests).
This page was inspired by LCAN member Barbara Berman, and researched and written by Maddox Miller.​