Office parties can have a bit of a bad rep - too much warm prosecco, mountains of single-use plastic and decorations that go straight in the bin before anyone's finished their canape or mince pie. However, a sustainable office party doesn't have to be a worthy, joyless affair. Done right, it can be the most talked-about event your team has had all year, so let's delve into the details starting with why these matter for business.
 
Why it matters for businesses
Sustainability is increasingly important to employees, clients, and stakeholders. Choosing suppliers and products that align with your company's environmental values isn't just a nice to have, it's actually really good business, with studies showing that proactive sustainability practices are more likely to lead to improved financial performance and longevity of the business. So if organising the company's annual soiree has been left to you, here are our top tips to help you run a top bash that's good for the business and good for the planet too!
 
Let’s start with the venue. If your office space works for the numbers, using it cuts transport emissions significantly - no one needs to travel anywhere new, and you're making use of a space that’s already heated and lit. If you do need an external venue, look for one with green credentials: venues that use renewable energy, have a composting setup, or hold an environmental accreditation are worth prioritising.
 
Tableware. When it comes to larger events, single-use tableware is popular, so choose wisely with plastic-free disposables which can be home composted rather than requiring industrial facilities. Palm leaf plates come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, including canape style. They can be microwaved for a couple of minutes and will break down in a home compost in around 60 days. With no chemicals, additives or coatings, they are definitely our first choice for disposable tableware.
 
Home compostable palm leaf tableware


Bagasse tableware is another option. These are made from sugarcane fibres although unlike palm leaf, they tend to take a lot longer to break down in home composting (potentially up to 6 months). For cups, we’d recommend home compostable ones with an aqueous (water based) coating – you definitely don’t want PE or PLA linings. We especially like The Good Cup – sturdy, spill proof, with an integrated lid which is really cool. For a smaller, seated gathering, reusables are always going to be the better option so it’s worth asking your caterer or venue if you’re using one whether they can provide crockery and glassware rather than disposables.
 
Decorations. Fabric bunting, ribbons, and natural botanical decorations all look professional without the plastic waste. Avoid any kind of balloons, and synthetic glitter entirely. If you want an alternative to a balloon arch, consider a dried or fresh flower hoop display with LED lights, or a simple foliage backdrop. Living walls for larger events are incredibly popular – they create real visual impact, and your team will actually want to stand in front of them for photos. Job done.
 
Living Walls 

Food and Drink. When it comes to food and drink, always try to find out where produce comes from - local and seasonal choices cut food miles and tend to taste far better too. Even a small shift towards plant-based options can make a real difference to the carbon footprint of your event, and your guests are unlikely to miss the mountains of processed meat. Some of the best events we’ve been to over recent years have served up amazing plant-based food that even the most hardy of meat-eaters have been hard pressed to disagree on just how tasty it was! This sounds obvious, but doing a proper headcount before you order also means accurate numbers, less food waste and of course a smaller bill to pay. And while we’re talking with caterers, encourage them not to bring in single-use plastic packaging. Packaging or wrap is something that’s often overlooked, but can contribute hugely to the waste from an event.
 
Fun and Games. All good office parties have a fun game or two, so how about bringing in a piñata - a brilliant, low-cost team activity that works for any size of group. Just be sure to check that the materials, including the glue are plastic-free. There are a huge range of piñatas available these days from beer bottles and bubble tea, to rockets and sharks, or get a bespoke one made up. Just be aware that these kinds of items usually have a lead-in time of at least a week to make, so be sure to order early.
 
Goody bags. These tend to be given away at corporate events, and we have to admit, our hearts sink just a little when we see the mountains of tote bags crammed full of bits and bobs. If you’re organising a business event or exhibiting at one where you’re giving away goody bags please think carefully. Not only do these cost quite a bit of money, but more often they end up sitting in a dusty corner somewhere once the notebooks, pens, and mints have been removed. Have a think about what might be more in alignment with the company's sustainability values such as small boxes of seed balls available in quantities from small teams to large conferences, with custom branding including your logo and colours. No tote bags needed. Other alternatives could be plantable pencils, local artisan edible treats, or digital gift cards – a QR code for guests or staff to scan.
 
Finally, just a note about what happens at the end of the event - this is where so many otherwise sustainable events fall apart, so it’s worth planning ahead. If you’re going for home compostable tableware such as palm leaf, then be sure to set up a clearly labelled waste system with separate bins for recycling, compost, and general waste - people will use them if it’s easy and clear to do.
 
If there are unopened ambient food items, these could be donated to a local food bank, rather than binned, and be sure that whoever is on tidy up duty makes sure that reusable decorations are safely folded away ready for the next event.
 
We hope this has shown that making your office party more sustainable is far simpler than it might seem. You don’t need a big budget or a dedicated green team, it’s just about making a few thoughtful choices. And those choices matter, because every supplier you select, every product you put on the table, sends a message about what your company actually stands for.
 
We’d love to hear how your office party or business event goes, so please do comment below and share with whoever is organising the festivities this year. The more of us making better choices, the bigger the difference we make together. If you prefer to listen rather than read, check out this episode on Spotify.