It would not surprise me if we created more waste as a collective at a party than we would ourselves in a year. Why is this? Why do we suddenly throw all our environmental morals down the drain? In this article I am going to explore some of the key ways in which everyone can host eco-friendly pres.
The most obvious, yet often not practiced way to reduce plastic usage at pres is to scrap those plastic red cups and opt for a more environmentally friendly choice. As students we all have those mugs and cups that have been living at the back of the cupboard collecting dust for years. We never seem to realise how much we actually hoard until moving day comes and you are trying to fit twenty different cups into one box. This is therefore the perfect way to both reduce waste and plastic consumption. If you are worried about breakages there are always plastic-free alternatives, ranging from cardboard cups to compostable ones.
"Glass jars are a particularly useful tool"
Another great way to help the environment is to opt for refreshments contained within glass bottles and packaging. Whether it is wine or lemonade, this way waste is kept at a minimum and the packaging can be reused. Glass jars are a particularly useful tool if you are wanting to store dry foods such as rice, pasta or oats. If you are on the more artsy side, they can also be used as decorative items. Whether it serves as a flower vase of a jar to hold fairy lights, the options are endless and very much eco-friendly.
Despite our best efforts to ‘do our bit’ for the environment, it is not always easy, or plausible, to completely eliminate plastics. We can, however, all contribute by recycling. Separating items that can be recycled from those that go to a landfill makes for an eco-friendlier environment and ensures that your bin is always collected on time!
"The easiest way to save on energy is by turning the heating off"
It is not always about physical objects that we use and waste, but also our use of energy. If you are hosting pres for a considerable amount of people, or even if only for a few close friends, the easiest way to save on energy is by turning the heating off. Even though autumn is upon us and the weather is turning colder, the body heat that will accumulate will be enough to keep a cosy temperature in any house. This can also be said with electricity. Why leave all the lights on in the house when you can confine your pres to one room. This would not only cut your energy output by more than half, but also save your pockets on those all-important bills.
When you think about it pres can be so much eco-friendlier just by making the smallest of changes to our everyday acts. It does not need to be a huge shift from what we are used to, but every little helps.
