How to Host a Sustainable Summer Gathering

In every different circle of friends, we’ve noticed a recent theme: we’re all trying to live more sustainably. Between demanding jobs and busy families, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. If life is feeling like a struggle, now is not the time for added challenges. A sustainable lifestyle doesn’t have to mean going zero-waste overnight.  It can start with simple, intentional choices, like how we host a summer party.

Hosting a gathering doesn’t have to be formal or expensive – there are plenty of ways to gather that are sustainable, affordable, and – most importantly – fun! From backyard barbeques to birthday bashes and laid-back game nights, summer is the perfect time to get together and celebrate life. Here’s how we like to make our gatherings better for the planet and our people.

1. Start with sustainable invitations
   
   The first thing to do when organizing any gathering is to determine the purpose. Sharing a meal with friends? Celebrating a birthday? Watching a big game? Defining the intent of the event helps give it shape and helps you plan the perfect gathering.
   
   When the time, place, and purpose are set, send your invitations through an online service like Paperless Post or Partiful. These sites collect the information you need from each guest and give you a real-time RSVP count without the waste of paper invites and envelopes. Sending a text instead of a formal invite works, too!
   
   
2. Use what you have for eco-friendly décor
   
   Before you buy anything new, challenge yourself to decorate with what you already own. Think fabric scraps, mason jars, reusable string lights, fresh flowers from your yard. If you have a theme in mind, try your local Buy Nothing group or second store first. If you do buy something new, make sure it’s something you’ll reuse or share!
   
   Food displays make gorgeous and functional décor. Large bowls of colorful fruit, a cookie bar, a cupcake stand – these all look much more enticing than single-use plastic décor.
   
   
   
3. Serve seasonal, plant-based food 
   
   Food is where sustainability really shines. Depending on your purpose and the vibe, you could host a potluck and invite everyone to bring their favorite vegan or vegetarian dish. Or, cook up some simple meatless options yourself: think veggie burgers, colorful salads, or grilled veggies on skewers.
   
   Skip the plastic fruit trays and build your own from farmers market finds. This helps reduce plastic and wasting the sad filler fruits that everyone avoids (looking at you, honeydew). Plus, local produce usually comes with less packaging and a smaller carbon footprint.
   
   For drinks, raise spirits by offering vegan wine! Most winemakers use animal byproducts in the clarification process. Check the label for a vegan symbol or conduct a quick online brand search before making a purchase.
   
   
   
   
   
4. Prep your table with reusable place settings
   
   Utensils, napkins, and tablecloths are an important part of your party’s aesthetic. This summer, ditch the single-use cutlery and cups in favor of real dishes, cloth napkins, and tablecloths. Cloth napkins and tablecloths are easy to wash, and they make your table look infinitely more welcoming and stylish. If you don’t have enough on hand, borrow from a friend or go thrifting for a fun, mismatched set.
   
   We’d never judge if you wanted to use a catering company instead of prepping and serving the food yourself. This would be a great way to support a small business, use reusable dishes and cutlery, and serve locally sourced food. Make life a little easier for you, support the local economy, and go easy on the environment!
   
   
5. Make gifts & party favors eco-friendly
   
   For kid parties, just say “no” to cheap plastic trinkets that will end up in a landfill next week. If party favors are still part of kid party culture in your area, choose something consumable or sustainable, like:
   1. Seed paper shapes that kids can plant at home
   2. Homemade play-dough in reusable jars
   3. Cookies or treats from a local bakery
   4. DIY bath bombs or beeswax crayons.Package favors in paper envelopes, glass jars, or fabric scraps instead of plastic bags if possible.
      
      For a sustainable birthday party, there’s nothing wrong with asking for no gifts or specifying that you’d prefer pre-loved gifts or a donation to a specific charity instead. You might be surprised to find that even little kids won’t notice or care about an absence of gifts.
      
      
6. Make it easy to recycle
   
   Make sure your trash and recycling bins are clearly marked so guests don’t have to guess. No one likes holding on to a used napkin – make sure folks can easily find where to put their trash. If you want to go even further, you could add a compost bin for food scraps if your city or backyard setup supports it.
   
   
7. Put on your party dress!
   
   Include a fun or helpful dress code on your invite. Knowing exactly what to wear makes guests feel more comfortable walking into the event. We’ve heard of super fun dress codes like “outfit you’d want to be wearing if you ran into your ex” or “your favorite red dress” but keeping it simple, like “summer casual” or “sunhats and sandals,” are also great options.
   
   As the host, your outfit sets the tone. For a sustainable house party, throw on a Passion Lilie wrap dress. They’re easy to move around in, super flattering, and functional – they have pockets for the random little things you need, like a corkscrew or a matchbox.
   
   
8. Celebrate intentionally
   
   Ultimately, the best way to host a summer gathering is to keep things intentional. You don’t have to do it all. Focus on one or two changes – something small, like ditching plastic utensils or serving a vegetarian menu – and go from there. Have fun and bring people together this summer!