Food

• Support grocery stores or caterers who commit to using local produce and organic food. This not only reduces the distance food must travel to your event, but ensures it will be fresher
• Use reusable plates, cutlery, napkins, whenever possible to reduce the waste of disposables. If you don’t have enough for your party, try checking out the GVSU Surplus Store, your local thrift store, or simply ask guest to bring their own.
• Eliminate excess packaging by serving food in large containers, provide bulk water, coffee and drinks rather than single packaged products.
• Donate leftovers to food banks or remind guests to bring containers if they want to take food home.

Alternative food options

• Purchase free-range or locally raised meat
• Try to reduce meat consumption by opting for meatless alternatives
• Offer more seasonal vegetable dishes
  • Winter squash
  • Pumpkin
  • Sweet potatoes
  • Brussel sprouts

Party planning

• You can save trees, greenhouse gas emissions created during the transportation, save pollution from the printing process, all by sending electronic invitations to your gathering
• If you do choose to print materials, make sure they are on post consumer recycled paper with vegetable based inks
• Use items you already own to decorate or borrow from friends.
• Consider natural, reusable decorations such as greenery, whole fruit, or plants

Miscellaneous tips

• Request sorting stations from the GVSU Sustainability Office
• Provide separate containers for recycling
• Announce to guest what and where to recycle
• When hosting a party, lower the thermostat- more people means more body heat

Gift Wrapping Alternatives 

Gift Giving Alternatives

Entertainment/ Food