Event Styling Services

how to incorporate sustainability in your events

The amount of waste generated from an average Australian wedding can vary depending on various factors such as the number of guests, the size of the wedding, and the amount of decorations and food served. However, according to research by the University of Technology Sydney, the average Australian wedding produces approximately 520 kilograms of waste, which is equivalent to the weight of four small cars or a person's annual waste.

Unfortuntaely, we see it every day!

This waste can come from various sources, including single-use plastics, food waste, decorations, and other items that are only used once and then thrown away. Some common examples of waste generated by weddings include disposable cups and plates, decorations made from non-recyclable materials or items just binned, leftover food that is not composted, and unwanted favours or gifts.

However, there are often simple ways to reduce the amount of waste produced by weddings & events, such as choosing eco-friendly alternatives for decorations and gifting, using durable plates and cutlery, and donating leftover food to food banks or charities.

Rent, don't buy. These days, you can hire just about anything you need for your event ... from the obvious such as furniture and catering equipment to some less traditional items like games, soft furnisings, event catering platters, evergreen flora.
Book our commercial food grade eskies instead of noisy mobile coolrooms or noisy, smelly generators. Check our air pot options for your ground-breaking or smoking ceremony, or party in the park.
Use digital invitations instead of paper invites. Ditto for seating charts, budget management, vision boards etc.
Use eco-friendly decorations - consider using recycled or upcycled materials for your decorations, clever rentals, explore evergreen flora or live plant options available here.
Consider eco-gifts, eg, succulents & potted plants, gifts made from natural materials, eg, marble or wood etched coaster, edible gifts.
Venue selection - select a venue with strong environmental commitments. Choose a venue that is easily accessible by public transport, organise buses for your rural wedding from town-based guests, or encourage guests to carpool.
Use durable or compostable tableware and cutlery instead of disposable options. This can include bamboo plates, glassware, and classic or modern plates & coloured stainless steel cutlery.
Provide well-labelled recycling, compost & waste bins throughout the event space, including the kitchen and bar. Placing them in sets together makes the recycling choice easier.
Avoid using single-use plastics, such as straws, cups, and water bottles. Instead, encourage guests to bring their reusable water bottles.
Partner with local vendors and caterers who use sustainable and locally sourced ingredients.
Use energy-efficient, LED lighting and sound systems, and recyclable appliances or batteries. Recycle used batteries.
Consider how you can use natural lighting, best time of day for guest comfort, and natural ventilation instead of air conditioning.
Donate leftover food to a local charity or food bank instead of throwing it away. Contact them first as not all food will be suitable to donate.
Let your attendees, sponsors, vendors know about your environmental policy.
Vett vendors on their environmental commitment.
Send your pillar candles off to a new event when you have finished with them. We can collect them at no cost on your behalf to save them from going to the tip.
Dry hire a hall (hire an empty hall) without the constraints of how the venue manages their waste, so you can control what happens. You may need extra hands on deck at the middle/end of the event to take care of waste sorting and removal. Our PFM catering team have a chicken feeding program and will split recycling and general waste for you.