A Festive Shift: How The Assemblies’ Venues Are Leading Low-Carbon Christmas Celebrations
It’s (almost) Christmas time – a season known for joy, celebration, and, often, excess. But this year, the team at The Assemblies, behind beloved Bristol venues like The Canteen, is reimagining how we celebrate. They’ve teamed up with Net Zero Now to make their Christmas menu not just a feast for the senses but a win for the planet. At the heart of their holiday mission? Reducing carbon emissions, minimising waste, and inspiring others to join in.
The Environmental Impact of Holiday Feasts
The numbers are staggering. Each holiday season, the UK alone discards around 230,000 tonnes of food, a stark reminder of how indulgent our festivities can be. This waste, and the carbon-heavy ingredients often found in traditional holiday fare, contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. Yet, The Assemblies’ team believes that Christmas can be both merry and mindful – and they’re proving it with a new, low-carbon menu designed to make a positive impact.
Creating a Sustainable Christmas Menu: The Assemblies’ Approach
This season, The Canteen has crafted a festive menu that’s more than delicious – it’s 53% less carbon-intensive than traditional options. With guidance from Net Zero Now and analysis by Bristol-based Future Leap, they’ve carefully selected seasonal, plant-based ingredients. Every dish is a conscious choice that celebrates taste while reducing carbon emissions.
By choosing plant-based, local, and seasonal ingredients, The Assemblies have created an experience that aligns with their values and encourages others to join in making a difference. The result? A holiday spread that’s fresh, full of flavour, and far better for the planet.
Why Partner with Net Zero Now?
The Assemblies joined forces with Net Zero Now, a leader in guiding businesses on the journey to sustainable, low-carbon operations. Through this partnership, The Assemblies team could precisely measure their menu’s carbon footprint, making every ingredient count toward a sustainable future. With the support of Net Zero Now’s Hospitality Protocol, they can track emissions reductions accurately, ensuring their efforts align with global climate targets.
Net Zero Now’s hospitality protocol simplifies the path to sustainability for businesses like The Canteen, offering tools to calculate, reduce, and offset emissions, ensuring that companies, big and small, can meaningfully contribute to climate action.
Tips for Your Own Low-Carbon Christmas Menu
Creating a low-carbon holiday celebration doesn’t mean compromising on taste. Here’s how you can plan your own sustainable feast:
- Prioritise Plant-Based Options: Plant-based foods typically have a much lower carbon footprint than meat. Seasonal vegetables, grains, and legumes offer endless opportunities for rich, flavorful dishes.
- Choose Local, Seasonal Ingredients: Sourcing ingredients locally reduces transportation emissions and supports local farmers. Plus, fresh, seasonal produce simply tastes better!
- Mind Portion Sizes and Reduce Food Waste: Food waste can account for a significant portion of holiday emissions. Consider serving dishes in smaller portions and encouraging guests to take leftovers home.
Inspiring a More Sustainable Future
For The Assemblies, sustainability isn’t just a holiday initiative – it’s a year-round commitment. By embracing low-carbon principles, they hope to inspire guests to make thoughtful choices in their own lives, whether that means adopting more plant-based meals, reducing food waste, or simply celebrating in ways that honour both tradition and the planet.
In a season that often focuses on abundance, The Canteen’s low-carbon Christmas menu reminds us that every small, intentional choice can add up to a big difference. This holiday, join The Assemblies and Net Zero Now in celebrating a Christmas that’s mindful, memorable, and meaningful.
Ready to plan a low-carbon celebration? Partner with Net Zero Now to create a holiday menu that delights guests and respects the planet. Learn how our Net Zero Hospitality Protocol can guide your journey to sustainability.
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