By Monique Heller Interiors 30.05.2025

4 Simple Hacks for Hosting a More Sustainable Dinner Party

Host your next gathering with style and intention using these easy tips for a more sustainable (but no less chic) dinner party.

When is the last time you hosted an intimate catch-up with your nearest and dearest? While a dinner party at home is a cozy way to connect and spend time with loved ones, it's also no small task. There's the guest list, invitations, menu planning, décor, wine list, playlist – the list goes on. Throw trying to do it sustainably into the mix, and you've got even more to think about.

Dinner parties have typically been synonymous with excess – too much food, drink and plastic going to waste. Admittedly, a sustainable dinner party might not be the sexiest invite in town, but it's important, and doesn't have to be dull and dry. Plus, you'll turn in for the evening feeling even more accomplished and fulfilled. To level-up your dinner party game, here are a few simple ways to curb waste without sacrificing on style.

Do a stocktake

This includes a fridge, freezer and pantry stocktake – challenge yourself to use up odds and ends that you have, buying as little new food as possible. Dishes like minestrone are great for clearing out leftover vegetables and dried goods, as are simple pasta dishes that you can use as a canvas to add whatever else you've got on hand. This also goes for your drinks list—time to dust off all those bottles you've been gifted over the years, instead of heading out to the bottle shop to buy some more.

Learn to say yes

If your friends offer to bring something, say yes enthusiastically – but encourage them to bring something they already have – no buying allowed! You might end up with fresh rosemary from their herb garden that will adorn your focaccia, leftover vegetables for crudités or their favorite bottle of pinot noir that they've got on hand in the cellar. This will force you to think outside the box by crafting your meal around these offers – and will also reduce the burden on your guests.

Love your leftovers

If you're left with tons of leftovers, take a considered few minutes to think carefully about what to do with them, instead of letting them fester in the back of the fridge until it's too late. As a general rule, the freezer is your friend for things like cooked meats and soups but if you can't freeze your leftovers, say a salad, send some home with your guests or drop some off to your neighbours the next day.

Leftover wine is great for cooking, and veggie scraps can be reinvented into a homemade stock if you don't compost. Jazz up leftover bread in the oven with a bit of olive oil, salt and herbs for great croutons or blitz them up into breadcrumbs for all your crumbing needs.

Resist the disposable trap

While it's very tempting to go down the disposable route when it comes to plates and cutlery to avoid the hassle of washing up, investing in a few key pieces will save the shameful trip to the bin the next morning. The sustainable option of using real dishes will take more time, but the trade-off is the smug, guilt-free feeling at the end of the night.

If you've got a dishwasher, there's really no excuse to not use real china, and even if you wash by hand, there's usually at least one guest who's happy to help with the dishes after you've gone to the effort of feeding their bellies. If you don't have a dish set big enough for a dinner party, head down to your local thrift shop or antiques shop – you'll be surprised by the quality you might find there. And even if you don't have a full matching set, mismatched is kind of on-trend, right?

Invest in quality tableware

Linen napkins, placemats and tablecloths are another worthwhile investment that save you from using paper or plastic – and look oodles more chic than their single-use counterparts. Opt for durable 100% French flax linen tablecloths, napkins and placemats, and they'll be with you for years and years to come. Plus, they add colour and a touch of luxury to any table setting, making your dinner party a memorable one for your guests.