Developing Low Carbon, Zero Waste Church Events

As an eco-church it is important that we make our events as environmentally sustainable and responsible as we can and thus strive to create low carbon, zero waste events. This means we focus on minimising the environmental impact of events by reducing carbon emissions and waste generation. We prioritise sustainable practices, like using renewable energy, reducing food waste, and promoting reusable items, to achieve a smaller footprint.

Zero waste naturally falls within a low carbon remit as the focus is on reduce and reuse. Recycle should be considered as the very last option (and not general rubbish). It should be noted that ONLY 9% of the total amount of plastic produced has ever been recycled. Plastic cannot be recycled forever. Both facts have been well documented in the news, National Geographic and David Attenborough’s Blue Planet.

To help with reducing carbon miles and waste, for your events consider:

Food

1. If you’re adaptable and flexible, check in with the CF.
2. A vegetarian meal would be the best way forward but also know that this may be seen as the least attractive option. Let the CF know what you might be looking for. We receive a variety of items and can put aside for you if they are any good. We always freeze meat on the UBD.
3. Consider to purchase what is local and in season to reduce carbon miles.
4. If you have to purchase take away for your event, check if the food establishment will consider using your own reusable containers / dishes for you to take away the food. This will help food establishments to consider people bringing their own reusables.
5. Try to purchase items that do not require packaging such as bringing your own bag to the local vegetable and fruit seller in Egham or to the local bakers (Cavan’s) or fishmonger.
6. Request people bring their own containers to the events to take away surplus food
7. Try to reduce the amount of over catering to 2% to reduce the requirements for the resources (fridge, freezer and containers)

Composting: try to reduce the amount of food being sent to be processed by composting. We have dedicated compost bins in the church car park and also a dedicated area for composting in the church grounds. At this moment in time we accept coffee grounds, paper, tissue, brown cardboard only (please remove sellotape, staples and labels), egg shells, vegetable peelings, flowers. Please ensure any plastic packaging, rubber bands and labels are removed from the produce.

Drinks

1. Consider using tap water rather than buying water and purchasing squash that can be diluted
2. Ask the CF. The CF has been gifted bottles of drink for the events.
3. For drinks that need to be kept cool – a large 50l cool box is available + there are smaller cool boxes in the kitchen. Please bring ice blocks and use them instead of purchasing bags of ice cubes
4. Ask people to bring their own cups to events

Signage for the Event

Marketing

1. Consider understanding how to use digital marketing and social media. When using sites like Facebook, the marketing needs to be shared to other groups and liked. If you need help, check in with the Admin team
2. Add QR codes on your posters that will link to a website. Many people take a photo of marketing info they are interested in. Many high street shops will support your poster
3. Only produce flyers if someone is willing to go onto the high street to distribute to the general public
4. Consider to use QR codes in all your marketing and ask someone in the comms team to help you produce / update a web page on St John’s web site.
5. Add to your marketing that you would like people to bring their own cup / containers. And/or ask people to bring their own plastic containers or jars to take away surplus food and to reduce waste. And/Or consider to ask the congregation to donate all their clean take away plastic containers ahead of the events
6. In all your marketing of events please state that St John’s is an Eco-Church and that we are evolving our events to be as sustainable and environmentally responsible as we can achieve. There are plenty of people in the eco-team who can help guide you.

Reducing Food Waste from Events

1. Create a bin for composting vegetable and fruit scraps
2. For food scraps consider finding someone with chickens who can take them away or using the Bokashi Composting unit
3. Surplus food: If meals can be created out of the surplus of the events, then consider to package the food into containers with ingredients listed so that they can be given as frozen meals to the infant feeding clinic and the CF.

Make sure you have:

• Considered the type of item you are purchasing. Go for items that are part of the circular economy, have packaging that can be reused / has reduced packaging
• A waste champion in your planning event – they will provide alternative ideas. (Speak to someone in the eco-team if you need someone)
• Centralised and created appropriate signs for the waste bins so that they can be managed
• A bin champion during your event – they will ensure people put the right waste in the right bin
• If you can, consider recycling more items around Egham. See here: https://stjohnsegham.com/eco-church-2/resources-for-sustainable-living-in-and-around-egham/where-to-recycle-things-around-egham/

• Consider reusable decorations and / or natural decorations
• Reconsider the use of balloons. Do a web search of alternatives to balloons.

Other Resources:
https://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/organise-a-zero-waste-event/
https://www.zerowasteeurope.eu/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Zero-Waste-Events.compressed.pdf