Catering is always one of the most important elements of an event. People may not remember the speakers or their presentations, but they’ll always remember the food and drink!
Choosing a menu that is tasty, sustainable, and suitable for everyone might seem challenging, but the catering teams at our venues are brilliant at recommending dishes that will taste delicious and help you achieve your sustainability objectives.
Here are some more general tips to get you started with your planning:
How to Choose a Sustainable Menu for an Event
- Choose dishes that would be suitable for most special diets - This removes the need to prepare and cook separate dishes for those with allergies and intolerances. If everyone can eat the same food, fewer ingredients and less transport will be required, resulting in a reduced carbon footprint.
- Ask the venue to use fresh, seasonal produce that’s locally sourced -You could ask your venue to source ingredients from within a specified radius of the venue to reduce emissions from transport. Calculating food miles and displaying them on your menus is one way you could encourage delegates to pick the most sustainable option.
- Offer a variety of healthy, plant-based options - Meat and dairy generally have a higher carbon footprint than vegetables, beans, pulses, and grains. Consider having a vegan menu with meat being the opt-in.
- Opt for menus with ingredients with higher environmental, social or animal welfare standards - Products carrying the LEAF Marque, Fairtrade or Red Tractor accreditations are all great choices. Choose a venue that has a focus on sustainably sourced fish to protect fish stocks. Check out the Good Fish Guide and look for Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) or Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certified fish on the menu.
- Minimise food waste - Plan portion sizes carefully to reduce food waste. If offering buffet-style food, ask delegates to be mindful when selecting food to minimise plate waste. You can always go back for a second or third round if you’re still hungry! If there are leftovers, arrange to donate them to a local food bank or ask if the venue can compost them.
- Use eco-friendly packaging - Ask your venue about the packaging and utensils they use; can they be recycled or reused? Encourage delegates to bring their own reusable water bottles.
- Food waste management - Ask your venue about food waste disposal. Do they compost organic matter? How do they ensure that recycling and rubbish are sorted correctly? Are there recycling bins around the venue that your delegates can use to do their bit?
- Educate and encourage your delegates - Provide information to your delegates about the sustainability efforts you've made with the menu. This can help raise awareness and inspire them to make eco-friendly choices.
- Gather feedback - After the event, gather feedback from your delegates about the sustainability of the menu. Use this data to improve the catering choices for future events.
By following these steps and working closely with your venue, it is possible to create a sustainable menu that aligns with your sustainability goals and sets a positive example for your delegates.
For employees of the University of Cambridge, take a look at the University’s Sustainable Food Policy: https://www.unicen.cam.ac.uk/sustainable-food-0.
