Most of event will provide food to their attendees. Serving food in an event is an opportunity to make connections, to bring people together to break bread. So how can we be sustainable when we talk about food?

The first step is to define which can of food it’s going to be serve, because one type of food can work for one type of event but maybe not another one. Because of many reasons, for example, this meal need to be on plate and people need to be seated to eat it? It is very important to choose the right type of food in accordance with the event.

The second step is to meet your requirement for a sustainable event. It is possible to use this list to help the event planner to organize and plan the event:

• Ensure all beverage trucks use full food containers where possible (e.g. bottles rather than individual serving sizes).
• Use ceramic or other packaging instead of Styrofoam or individual packages.
• Ensure recycling as well as litter containers are available close to food trucks.
• Avoid bottled water where possible. In some cities, local water trucks are available and will come
• to your event to promote local tap water.
• Ensure suppliers use only eco friendly cleaning products.
• Offer suggestions on how to reduce water consumption.
• Ask suppliers to use renewable energy sources rather than diesel generators where possible.
• Use cloth rather than disposable cloths if applicable.
• Use biodegradable cups. These are preferred over recyclable plastic.
• Purchase products and services that meet environmental specifications wherever these are available
• such as fair trade coffee, organic and locally grown foods.
• Offer foods according to seasonal fruit and vegetables available locally.
• Use domestic liquor brands if possible.
• Provide information on the source of all food and beverages, especially if fair trade or local.
• Donate leftover food to a charity.
• Compost all used food. Ensure that compost bins are visible to all participants.

“Caterers and food stallholders that provide healthy, fresh, seasonal, local, fair, culturally appropriate, dietarily diverse and naturally grown food add to the overall sustainability credentials of your event” (Jones 2018:255). It can also be good if you offer gluten-free/coeliac, lactose-free, vegetarian and vegan options. Or Offer Halal, Kosher or Jain-appropriate meals. Offer culturally appropriate food (consider tastes of attendees, acknowledging regional preferences). It will show that you care about the attendees and you think about everyone. Using a local and seasonal food will help to reduce the greenhouse gas emission. Also from an economical point of view is a good solution to help small producer, it will also avoid a long travel ans the taste of the food will be better as well.

Figure 1: Food checklist | Source: Jones (2018)

 

Reference:

Jones, M. (2018). Sustainable event management. 3rd ed. Oxon: Routledge.