Be The Host With The Most Zero-Waste Wins!

Get set for a sustainable party season with our ultimate guide to zero-waste entertaining – whatever the occasion. From food prep and eco decorating to green ideas for a wicked Halloween and waste-free Christmas, it’s all here…

Plan your menu and then write a list to avoid getting side-tracked by plastic wrapped supermarket specials. Easy but impressive recipes to cook from scratch like this asparagus velouté and these Thai curry chicken kababs (a doddle in the new EasyFry & Grill) are high on taste and low on waste.

Want more zero-waste recipe inspo? Check out this awesome round up of dishes with plenty of dinner party worthy plates to whip up, including a smoky carrot hummus that will get your guests talking.

It’s a case of waste not, want not when preparing food so get to grips with what to do with scraps. From stocks and fried potato skins to veg peel broths in the pressure cooker and even bonkers banana skin recipes, you’ll never look at cooking waste in the same way again.

As if by magic, some foods will regrow so don’t bin the bases of lettuce, leeks and pak choi. Pop these veg ends in water and marvel as they grow again on a windowsill.

Party prep short cuts are tempting but disposable is the opposite of zero-waste, so keep it real with table wear. Always say no to plastic cups, cutlery, straws and plates. Choose linen over paper for napkins and tablecloths and keep them crisp with a good iron.

When it comes to the trimmings, avoid plastic and unnecessary waste by investing in reusable decorations or getting creative with flowers, foliage and candles.

Supermarket shelves are piled high with Halloween themed treats but why buy when you can make a spooktacular array of your own?. Also, try DIYing reusable decorations and outfits so that the scariest thing about Halloween won’t be the amount of plastic in the bin.

Get your money’s worth out of your pumpkin. Carve a masterpiece and save the innards for pumpkin puree or a delicious pumpkin soup. As for the seeds, turn them into a moreish snack – baked taco pumpkin seeds!.

Yuletide cheer shouldn’t cost the earth, so put on a batch of slow-cooker mulled wine and plan a more sustainable Christmas this year. Decorate with greenery, look out for a FSC certified tree and make your own crackers to swerve the terrible jokes as well as throw-away gifts.

Take a look at our full guide to an environmentally friendly Christmas.

Over-catered? No problem! Turn leftovers into other delicious meals or freeze in portions for future dinners. Pop food in leakproof containers that seal in freshness and find out how to store every type of leftover food here.

All that’s left is to plan your sustainable outfit and you’ll be ready to party the planet-friendly way!