How to make your events more eco friendly

PTAs
02 October 2024
We know lots of our PTA members are thinking more about the environment when organising events. Here are some steps you can take to make your fundraising endeavours a little bit greener

Reduce

IOUs

The best prizes, gifts and rewards aren’t always physical items that you can take home. Many parents will jump at the chance of winning a free car wash, a voucher to a local restaurant, or tickets to an experience they can enjoy with their child. 

Let’s get digital 

Posters and leaflets are a great way to grab parents’ attention, but you can also spread the word about your PTA’s plans using Facebook events, WhatsApp groups, email invites and by building your presence on social media. Some print media is unavoidable, but you might get quicker responses and more interaction online. And don’t just stop at event invites – set up polls to gauge parent interest in different activities and create crowdfunding pages to boost your fundraising. 

Virtual fun

Virtual events may have had their heyday during the pandemic, but they’re still a fun format for busy parents while also being low effort, low cost and better for the environment than in-person events. Beyond the classic quiz, you could also host home discos, cooking lessons, book clubs and even murder mystery parties! 

Vegging out

Swap sausage rolls for soysage rolls and try having a completely meat-free event. Evidence shows that eating less meat helps to reduce your carbon footprint and there are so many great tasting alternatives available that the children won’t even notice the swap! You could step it up even further, offering vegan cakes or plant-based milks for teas and coffees. 

Top tip!

The most sustainable payment method is through QR codes, followed by credit and debit cards. The least sustainable is coins and notes. Have you considered a cashless event? Another upside is there’s no need for a float!

Reuse

Feeling thrifty

From raffles and quizzes to fairs and competitions, your committee probably buys a fair number of prizes throughout the year. Depending on the prize, this can result in lots of single-use plastics and packaging waste. 

One solution is to scour charity shops or ask parents to donate prizes. Second-hand doesn’t have to mean second-rate – there are so many brand-new, unloved items out there that are kinder to both the planet…and your funds! 

Keep it clean

We know everyone hates washing up, but having some reusable cutlery and plates for smaller events could mean a huge reduction in waste. Charity shops are a great place to shop if you don’t mind the mismatched look, and you could ask parents for their old kitchenware. 

Picnicware is another good option since a lot of it is made of reusable plastic, meaning it’s long-lasting and safer for the children. Plus, some brands are dishwasher safe (did we mention we really hate washing up?). 

BYOC (Bring Your Own Cutlery)

If you haven’t got anywhere to store plates and cutlery, how about asking people to bring their own? This is ideal for cake sales as many families have drawers filled to the brim with Tupperware. It’s also a good option for less messy foods such as picnic nibbles, barbecues and sandwiches, or for drinks like coffee, tea and mulled wine at Christmas. For an added incentive, you could offer a discount to those willing to BYOC. 

Top tip!

Food vendors in the UK are no longer allowed to sell single use plastic cutlery, balloon sticks, polystyrene cups or food containers. If you use external companies for your events, it might be worth asking them what they use so you can follow suit.

Recycle

Bin and gone

Do you have separate bins for recyclable materials, food and general waste at your events? You could create clear signs so everyone knows which is which (on recyclable paper, of course) and have lots of fun decorating the bins with hungry monster faces to entice the children to use them. 

The host with the compost

Did you know paper plates and cups often can’t be recycled? That’s because a lot of them are coated in wax and other unrecyclable substances to stop them going soggy. On top of that, food residue hinders the recycling process. 

But there is an alternative. Compostable plates, cups and cutlery are the real deal. Once they’ve been used, simply pop them in a compost or food bin and they will start to break down over time. Look out for the word compostable’ rather than biodegradable’ as they don’t quite mean the same thing. 

Top tip!

Find out where you can recycle items locally on the Recycle Now website.

Find out more

Remember: no one’s perfect 

Being eco friendly doesn’t mean missing out, having less, feeling guilty or being out of pocket. It’s about educating yourself and others and making positive choices wherever possible. If you’re thinking about these things, you’re already having an impact. After all, doing something (even if it’s small) is better than doing nothing! 

For example, the most recyclable materials are paper, glass and aluminium, so if you have a choice between buying something made of plastic or buying something made of more recyclable materials, try to choose the latter. Reuse things where you can. Buy locally where possible. Ask local businesses and parents if they have any sustainable suggestions. It all counts! 


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