This week, I had the opportunity of attending the Better Business Summit in Manchester, UK.
Organised by the brilliant Better Business Network, the summit brought together hundreds of like-minded business leaders dedicated to driving positive change.
The theme for this year was “Future Proof”, challenging us all to ask: “What does your business need to truly be future proof?”
The event featured an inspiring lineup of experts from various sectors, representing organisations and brands at the forefront of impact-driven work.
I was incredibly proud that Party Kit Network CIC was shortlisted for the Better Business Pioneer Award. Alongside four other outstanding members, I had the chance to deliver a five-minute pitch, sharing our story and the joy I’ve found in building the Party Kit Network.
The impressive shortlist included:
Michelle Miles from the Sustainable Wedding Alliance
Heather Davies from the Re-Action Collective
Catherine Manning from MeasureUp
And Simon Hall from Airways Medical
It was an honour to stand alongside these inspiring pioneers and share the stage at such an impactful event.
While I didn’t win the public vote (that well deserved honour went to Simon), I did win the judges’ highly commented award and I’m so proud that I got to share the impact our members are having.
Here’s what I said in my pitch…
Opening
Have you ever thought about the waste left behind after a party? It’s common to see a mountain of single-use plates, cups, and decorations—used for just a couple of hours, then thrown away. Now imagine replacing all that with something sustainable, affordable, AND easy to use.
The Inspiration
In 2019, I was listening to Jen Gale’s Sustainable-ish podcast. She was speaking with Tillie, who had recently set up a party kit in Frome.
The concept was simple: Tillie had a box of reusable tableware she lent out to neighbours, so they didn’t have to buy their own.
As a parent of a then two-year-old, the idea instantly resonated. My toddler had a busy party schedule where disposable items were being used once only to be thrown away. The party kit concept solved this problem.
But how could I find out if there was a party kit near me?
This innocent question sent me on a journey I could never have imagined.
Building Ripples
The very next day, I started compiling a list of existing party kits – and found one was just 20 minutes away from me!
Within 2 weeks, I’d found over 40 party kits across the UK. There was Louise near here in Romiley, Rachel in Cardiff, Darren in Ware, Aneeta in East London and many more!
I initially planned to list these kits on an existing website mapping zero-waste projects. But when someone suggested creating a Facebook group, I realised there was real momentum among those who ran party kits – and a chance to get organised and collaborate.
And that was how the Party Kit Network was born!
At the time, I didn’t know what a social enterprise was. But I knew there was power in sharing knowledge and that working together could make the party kit concept more impactful.
Our network grew quickly, with 250 members joining within six months— our map was exploding in pins all the way from Shetland to the Channel Islands.
But then the pandemic hit, and we had to pack away our kits.
During this time, Erin Rhoads, a zero-waste author in Australia, reached out and asked if we could expand the network there. So we did. We also joined forces with Sharon Keilthy’s party network in Ireland. We were starting to go global.
Momentum slowly rebuilt as we came out of the lockdowns. Today we have nearly 600 members across 10 countries.
Why It Works
The party kit concept works because it’s adaptable and scalable, and it works in communities across the world. Party kits are run in a variety of ways: from homes, as part of small businesses, as fundraisers for school PTAs, or within local sharing libraries.
Each kit is run independently – this isn’t a franchise, no one owns the concept and network membership is free.
All party kits provide a minimum of reusable plates and cups, but members can add whatever extras they want – they can run their kit in a way that works best for them.
People set up a party kit because they are passionate about the opportunity to avoid waste. For many it’s a way to take climate action, however small. A way to deal with eco anxiety. A way to create something joyful and to be part of something bigger.
And I’ve seen how setting up a party kit has given people the confidence to go start other community initiatives. Such as Tasha and her son Noah on the island of Jersey. They started with a single box of plates and now run a successful charity, not only offering a vast party library, but bringing together their community through crafting workshops and sharing skills.
People who hire our party kits not only feel good about ‘doing their bit for the planet’, they also get a better-quality product, conveniently provided at an affordable price.
But most importantly, we’ve seen how party kits can act as a stepping stone into the sharing economy. Many party kit hirers have gone on to borrow things in other areas of life, such as items from tool libraries.
While party kits can be used for any celebration, as a network we have focused on kids parties. It’s the easiest message when sharing the party kit concept, but it’s also really important that children can see what taking action looks like. And for this next generation to grow up knowing that reusing and sharing is normal.
The future
Party kits are proof that small changes add up. Every time a party kit goes out, an average of 100 single-use items are avoided.
And I am so proud that in 2024, our network passed the 1-million milestone. That’s a million single-use items prevented from entering landfill.
But as Ayana Elizabeth Johnson said: “It’s not about the glory. It’s about the ripples.”
And because of the ripples our members are making today, one day we won’t need the Party Kit Network. Every community will have a party kit, and everyone will know how to access it.
We won’t need movements designed to change behaviours for a more sustainable future.
Single-use will no longer be the default, but the exception.
And people will have rediscovered the joy that is sharing.
So, if you want to change the world, now is the time to throw a better party.
