Going green is more than a trend, it’s a healthy and fiscally-responsible approach to life. What do we mean by going green? Going green means considering the repercussions your decisions have on the environment and trying to make choices that have less of a negative impact. In many instances, the sustainable option will save you money and result in less waste.
Here at Atlantis Banquet Hall in Los Angeles, we are dedicated to doing everything we can to ensure your event is as memorable and enjoyable as possible. That includes offering tips and insights during the planning process. For all you Angelenos out there who are considerate of our planet, here are five fun ways to green your next big event.
1. Cut Back on the Single-Use Plastic Items
As you’ve probably heard, plastic pollution is a big issue. From straws to utensils, Americans toss millions of pieces of single-use plastics into the garbage every day. Unfortunately, a small percentage of that plastic is recycled, which means that cup you used just once might end up in a landfill for hundreds of years. Okay, enough doom and gloom. There are many ways that you can cut back on the plastic use at your next event. Consider renting glass and silverware instead of single-use items. Further, you can encourage attendees to bring their cups back up to the bar for a refill instead of getting a new one each time. If plastic is the only option, consider plant-based versions that are
compostable.
2. Encourage Attendees to Carpool
We know that weddings, Quinceañeras, and other significant events bring people in from all over, so it’s hard for everyone to carpool. That being said, you can politely ask any friends or family that live nearby to cut back on their emissions by carpooling, taking public transportation, or sharing a ride-share to your event.
3. Give Back to the Planet
Set up a donation box or follow up email after your event saying you want to offset the environmental footprint with a donation to a nonprofit. For example, suppose you want to raise a certain amount during the event to donate to a local reforestation project or school garden. That way guests can choose to participate if it’s something they care about. For those who are even more altruistic, you can ask that guests consider donating to an environmental nonprofit instead of bringing a gift.
4. Offer a Vegetarian/Vegan Option
In most cases, meat has a larger carbon footprint than vegan options. It’s both considerate to the planet and your vegetarian attendees to offer a vegan food option that is equal in quality to the meat options. Odds are you’ll know how many attendees will choose this meal ahead of time, and you can order accordingly to save money and reduce food waste.
5. Eco-Invites
Save the dates and invites are a big part of any major event. If the event isn’t too formal, i.e., a Board Meeting, consider using Evites (emailed invites) instead of paper ones. For a more formal occasion such as a wedding, consider invites printed on recycled or seed paper (paper they can bury in the ground, water, and flowers will bloom). It’s a charming way of letting your guests know from the start that you are considering the environmental footprint of your event.
Fun green fact about our Los Angeles event venue: Mexican American artist Eduardo Oropeza adorned our building with embedded ceramic and mosaics. Such pieces consist of vintage and irregularly broken, vibrantly colored ceramic recycled household items. Hey, that’s another good eco-friendly idea! When choosing decorations, consider using recycled and vintage items.