How to Plan a Zero-Waste Potluck

A zero-waste potluck is gathering of friends and community members with the dual goal of sharing in a homemade meal and reducing food waste.

Why this recipe matters

Food waste is a major contributor to landfill mass, and packaging waste from single-use containers adds to pollution. Hosting a zero-waste potluck is a simple and fun way to raise awareness about reducing waste and help your community adopt sustainable practices in everyday life.

Ingredients

• Location (a house, school gym, courtyard, local park ... get creative!)
• A couple of folks willing to lend a canopy in case you end up outside and weather rolls in.
• Invitations or flyers (digital preferred to avoid paper waste)
• Reusable or compostable dishware, utensils, and cups
• Local composting guidelines
• Recipes for sustainable dishes (focus on plant-based, local, or low-packaging ingredients)
• Tables and chairs. You could also opt for "BYO seat and picnic blanket"
• A few volunteers to help with setup and cleanup

Recipe

1. Pick a location.

• This will likely be weather dependent, but there's not much you need! Maybe you'll be able to volunteer your home or find a space (school gym or library meeting room) that somebody is willing to donate. If the weather is nice, consider an outside gathering! Just make sure you have a few canopies on hand.

2. Be strategic about timing.

• If it works for you, your guests, and the location, try for a Sunday afternoon. There's a better chance that attendees will have some leftovers from the week/weekend to bring along and reduce food waste even more!

3. Invite your community.

• Get the word out! You can make this as big (or small) as you want (and your selected space will allow).
• Encourage attendees to bring a dish made with minimal packaging and to bring their own reusable containers for leftovers.
• Also be sure to ask guests to bring their own dishware and utensils.

4. Consider a waste station.

• Set up an area with bins for compost, recycling, and a very small bin for trash (if needed).
• Create and display clear signage so people can dispose of everything responsibly.

5. Share sustainable recipes.

• Prior to the event, share some recipes that will inspire attendees to prepare dishes using what they may already have in their kitchen/pantry and using ingredients with a lower environmental impact.

6. Share your success.

• Share your success on social (and with us!) after you've wrapped up your potluck. And then plan the next one!

Nutritional Information

How this recipe has nurtured a community

We haven't tried this one yet, but we'd love to hear from you if you did! Did you gather neighbors and friends for a zero-waste potluck? What was the most eco-friendly feature of your unique event? What was your favorite dish? Please let us know in the comments how a zero-waste potluck has nurtured your community!

Finishing Touch

Encourage guests to bring their own containers from home for leftovers (who doesn't love some good leftovers?!).