Guilt-free Jubilee

 

How have an Eco-Friendly Jubilee Street Party

On June 3^rd the Queen of England will celebrate her Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years since she became monarch. The Queen has chosen for the Platinum Jubilee to have a special environmental focus; The Queen’s Green Canopy is an initiative encouraging people to “plant a trees for jubilee” to leave a lasting green legacy.

To celebrate the event, the UK have been granted a four-day weekend. Many are choosing to spend this time having community events and parties. See our tips below on how to have an eco-friendly jubilee weekend.

Sustainable food options:

When preparing for any party, eating and drinking are the absolute top considerations. So, what sort of recipes do you need to have a sustainable dinner party? Veggie, seasonal, and local, of course! We recommend aiming to minimise meat dishes and emphasising vegetarian dishes that you can share. Some of our favourites include roast vegetable sandwiches, seasonal salads and new potatoes.

Try not to make excessive food that won’t get eaten by your guests. Forward-planning can help to reduce waste, plan for everyone to have a couple of plates each! If you have lots of leftovers, consider packaging them in Tupperware and freezing them for a later date (providing they’ve been kept in food-safe conditions).

Cutlery and crockery:

According to The Guardian, in England 1.1 billion single-use plates and 4.25 billion items of single-use cutlery are used every year, but only 10% of them are recycled. To avoid unnecessary plastic waste, consider asking guests to bring their own, buying some from charity shops, or investing in compostable and eco-friendly brands such as The Compostable Cup Company or VegWare.

Bunting and decorations:

Traditionally, royal events are decorated using patriotic flags and bunting. In recent years, it has been commonplace to use unsustainable materials such as plastic which often get disposed of after the event.

We recommend making your own from waste fabric, or even getting the community involved and asking them to try and make some! You can often get scraps for free using local Facebook or Freecycle groups, or you could utilize dis-used bedding or clothes for the occasion. This way, your decorations will be unique and can be re-used for future occasions! Find out how to make your own bunting here.

Another sustainable alternative to single-use bunting is renting from companies such as Bunting By Jen who hire out bunting for special occasions, and wash and re-use them.

Location:

To host a Platinum Jubilee Street Party, it is recommended that you start planning six weeks in advance, as you need to apply for official road closure with your local council. But that doesn’t mean that it’s too late, if you live on a cul-de-sac or are planning a smaller event off-road, you can host a ‘Platinum Street Meet’! We recommend hosting your event somewhere that’s accessible for all attendees and can be accessed by foot or bicycle to reduce everyone’s carbon footprint!

Recycling:

One of the best ways to reduce the environmental impact of your Jubilee celebrations is to make sure that there’s a plan for all of the rubbish that comes from food wrappers and empty bottles. 

Make sure that everyone has access to well-labelled recycling points. This might mean placing wheelie bins in the middle of the street or providing smaller litter bins or containers. Consider organising a group of Street Champions who remove decorations and check for litter after the event is finished. Waste should be disposed of in your household bins. If there’s an excessive amount of unsalvageable food waste and you’re worried about the smell consider organising to use Share Waste, where it can be used for composting. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

EMERGE provides environmental education and advice on resource management, waste composition and sustainable procurement issues. Our business services include everything from recycling collections to confidential document shredding.