Our story
The Party Kit Network is a nonprofit social enterprise founded by Isabel Mack five years ago with the aim of reducing throwaway party waste and making celebrations more sustainable.
A simple but impactful initiative, the party kit concept combines the benefits of reuse with local sharing.
Each party kit is run independently by network members, who are free to choose the level of service they offer, but all share a common goal to make reusable tableware more accessible.
Party kits are not limited to children’s parties in the home and some members offer kits specifically for other events that are hosted by local businesses or community groups.
All party kits include reusable cups and plates as a minimum. Most also offer jugs, bowls, and cutlery, and many provide serving platters, decorations and more. Some party kits are lent for free or for a suggested donation to a local group (like a school PTA). Those that charge a fee usually keep it comparable to the cost of disposable items. Party kits are returned to local network members after the event, to be used again by different households and organisations.
Since the enterprise started, party kits have collectively prevented over one million single-use items.
Our advice
Provide tangible benefits that a network can bring to its members in order to make it grow and become a community. We provide our members with training and resources that help them raise awareness and make reusable tableware accessible to more people.
Sharing ideas and information is really important in creating an effective network of like-minded individuals. For some members – potential and existing – being part of a bigger movement and seeing their collective impact can be a strong motivator for joining and continuing to run a party kit.
Getting the message out is key. Once a group of people has a kit, they need to build connections with lots of different people and organisations in the local area so others know about this reusable service and are encouraged to try at their next event.
Our metrics
The benefits of party kits go well beyond reducing waste. Many party kits also help raise funds for school PTAs, local causes, and environmental charities, so their impact extends right into the heart of local communities. At the same time, there is a sense of connection with like-minded people and of community building that goes beyond the transaction of borrowing a party kit.
