8 Tips For An Eco-Friendly Street Party

Planning a street party for the King’s Coronation on Saturday?

Even if you’re thinking ahead to other summer get-togethers, our helpful tips can ensure any street party you throw is as green as can be.

Planet-friendly decorations made easy

Swap single-use plastic decorations for sustainable options such as recycled paper banners, bunting made from natural fabrics – think textiles and paper, instead of plastic, or even improvising with aesthetically placed potted plants! It’s estimated that UK households throw away 100 billion pieces of plastic packaging a year, so opting for plastic-free products where possible can help to reduce this. Avoid balloons to reduce litter and landfill (and strain on your lungs!)

You can pick up fabric bunting from Tesco along with the rest of your street party shop. You can also pick up a pack of Feel Good to extend the sustainable celebrations through to the bathroom.

Reduce the single use!

Bring out the kitchen crockery, instead of using disposable plates, cups, and utensils. If you want to curate your own street party collection then charity shops often have plenty of kitchenware in stock – you might even stumble across some royal-themed gems from celebrations gone by!

Eat local

Support local businesses and reduce the carbon footprint of your event by serving locally-sourced, organic food. Choose seasonal fruits and vegetables – blackcurrants, rhubarb and strawberries are at their best in May, and perfect to create a fruity Union Jack fit for the Royals.

Recycle and compost innovation stations

Make it easy for guests to effectively dispose of their waste by clearly labelling recycling and composting stations throughout the party area. This will help minimise the amount of waste that goes to landfill, as well as making the post-party clean-up even easier!

Solar-powered brilliance

If your party will be running through to sunset, make sure you light the way with energy-efficient LED or solar-powered lighting. This is an easy sustainable swap to make in the lighter months, saving your money as well as the planet! John Lewis stocks party-appropriate solar lights to help illuminate your celebrations into the night.

Plan for waste reduction

Minimise waste by using cloth napkins, avoiding single-use condiment packets and providing bulk or homemade snacks, instead of individually packaged. Consider donating any leftover food to local food banks or composting the organic waste.

Educate, engage and enlighten

Raise awareness about the importance of eco-friendly practices by providing information about sustainable living and engaging guests in environmentally-themed games and activities. This can help inspire and encourage more eco-friendly behaviours beyond the party.

Clean up responsibly

After the party, make sure to clean up the event area and properly dispose of all waste. Leave the street and surrounding areas as clean as, or cleaner, than you found them.

These small changes make a big difference to creating an eco-friendly street party. By thinking green and planning with sustainability in mind, you can help reduce the environmental impact of your event, while still having a fun and memorable time. If every household took a more sustainable approach for this year’s coronation parties, think of the waste we could prevent!

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