Love parties? Hate waste?

Disposable plates, bowls, cups, and cutlery, have all become normal at parties; they make tidying up a piece of cake but have a big impact on the environment. 

by Erin Rhoads

For a party of 30 people that’s an average of over one hundred single-use items going straight to landfill. 

That’s a lot of waste, but there is a better reusable way available via the Party Kit Network.

The Party Kit Network connects people with reusable party kits in their area available for hire run by individuals, community groups like toy libraries, schools, and party businesses. Traditionally a party kit contains reusable plates, bowls, cups, cutlery and more - everything needed for a colourful party with less waste. The contents are housed in a container making organising easy. After each hire, the box of equipment is returned to be used again. 

Using a party kit can work out to be cheaper than buying disposable partyware and less stressful since everything is ready to go. Kits are either lent for free, while others can run as fundraisers or are part of small businesses. Party kits come in a variety of sizes and are normally lent for 1-3 days per hire.

The Party Kit Network is part of the growing collaborative consumption movement, also referred to as the sharing economy. The idea behind collaborative consumption is that goods are not kept for ownership by a single person or household, rather set up to be shared with a wider community. The rediscovering of sharing is driven by the environmental, social, and economic benefits the system provides. As a zero-waste advocate I believe sharing, reusing, connecting what we already have with our neighbours makes the Party Kit Network a truly eco friendly alternative.

Rather than purchasing plastic plates, bowls, cutlery, cups, decorations and other party miscellanea for a single use, people can borrow what they need helping reduce not only the waste but also the resources needed during the manufacture, packaging, shipping and then eventual disposal via our waste system. Hosting a party using a reusable party kit is also a great way to spark conversations around the impact of single-use while make reusing fun and normal. The Party Kit Network has made an impact in the UK with over 400 kit holders and 900,000 items saved from landfill. Since its launch in Australia late last year over forty kits have already signed up helping communities find easy and accessible replacements to wasteful party ware and inspiring people to get on board. 

How to get started:

  •        Download a free guide for tips on sourcing equipment and how to operate your kit
  •        Check your cupboard, ask family & friends, search Op Shops or online marketplaces to find party ware or invest in new reusables. Remember they will be reused many times so don't feel bad if you need to buy new.
  •        Join the Party Kit Network facebook group to connect with fellow party kit holders around the world
  •        Once your kit is together submit it to the Party Kit Network map for others to find
  •        Think about how you might like to promote it. For instance share a link to a local Buy Nothing New Group, a Parenting or Kids facebook group, print a poster from the Party Kit Network customisable posters to put up at a daycare, school, or local shops for others to find
  •        Enjoy the warm fuzzy feeling of being part of the collaborative consumption movement and making the world less trashy one party at a time



Erin Rhoads is the author of two popular zero-waste lifestyle books, Waste Not and Waste Not Everyday. She runs the blog therogueginger.com, is a sought-after speaker and community activist, and has her own party kit that she loves to share with her community. 

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