Apr 2022: Partying Sustainably
- Kaili Brande
- Apr 15, 2022
- 3 min read
Hi everyone, and Happy Spring! As warmer weather approaches (at least for us in the Northern Hemisphere), more social events are expected on the horizon! With social events often comes the consumption of food and beverages (and containers). Just because we’re having fun, doesn’t mean sustainability has to fly out the window. Let’s continue to be sustainable, even when we party!
The most common form of trash at larger parties are drink receptacles. One of the classic American options is the red Solo Cup. Of course, this is a nostalgic choice for anyone who has been to the average American college party. (There’s even a country song written about this! *cringe*). However, it is not the most sustainable choice, as one might suspect. Red solo cups in particular are made of polystyrene, the #6 plastic. Throughout most of California, #6 plastics are not recycled, only #'s 1 and 2. Therefore, assuming we can simply solve the problem by “recycling” the cups is a fallacy.
What comes of using red solo cups at your party? It means that at the end of the night, you have a trash can full of these sturdy red cups. Not only is this a waste of a trash can bag, it’s also a waste of sturdy plastic that was only used *once*, for a mere couple hours.
What can we do instead? Don’t be trashy, get classy! Choose reusable cups! This was the norm before disposable foodware took over the world in the 1940’s, 50’s, and 60’s (i.e. when McDonald’s started to use disposable packaging). Prior to such a culture shift, people simply reused things and washed them in between uses. While single use food and beverage containers were largely helpful in their early history by preventing the spread of disease, modern medicine and other health standards make these risks almost negligible. (The exception is if you're in a hospital or other location of high disease transmission risk, where single use containers are a smart sanitation choice).
However, for your average party, freshly washed reusable cups at home will do the trick. After all, the universal rule of “reuse” is one of the most critical pillars of sustainability (one of the "3 R's"). Here are some awesome reusable cup options to grace your table:
1. Glasses already in your kitchen: use glasses and cups that you already have in your house (including random mason jars). It will give your party a quirky, fun vibe!
2. Non-glass cups: If you’re concerned about people breaking the glass (i.e. your party is extra lively), you can get a set of non-breakable cups specifically for hosting parties. Some options are:
a. Stainless steel cups: A great non-plastic choice that offers long-lasting durability.
My graduate school actually gives students this cup (see below), so we can refill and
reuse them at networking and other departmental events!
b. Reusable plastic cups: Yes these are plastic, but they're meant to be long lasting.
You can also opt for BPA-free for maximum quality. Might as well choose some cool
colors while you’re at it!
c. Reusable “red solo cups”: If you can’t shake the desire to have red solo cups at your
party (due to understandable nostalgia), then opt for reusable versions! I found my set
at BevMo, and some even come with a stem! They’re sure to get a laugh, too. 😉
With all of the social gatherings you plan to host in the future, think of all the waste you will be eliminating from your space (and all the money not spent on disposables). Once you have your “party set” of reusable cups, you’ll always be ready for a good time. Plus, you can bring one of them as your personal "to-go cup" when you go to other people's parties! Of course, many times drinks are served in prepackaged cans or bottles. In this case, you can simply drink straight out of the container to avoid using a single use cup (bonus: metal cans and glass are always recyclable).
One local initiative that champions the above ideas is called Rage Sustainably (created by former students at my graduate school)! It can be found on Instagram @rage_sustainably. Check it out!
So what do you think? Are you feeling more ready to party sustainably? When we are thoughtful about we consume on a daily basis, we can work to be more sustainable human beings. This gives us just another reason to celebrate! 🎉
Great article with great solutions!!