How Food & Beverage Businesses Can Cut Waste This Holiday Season

The holiday season is one of the busiest and most waste-heavy times of the year for food and beverage businesses. In December, 23% more waste is generated compared to any other time of the year. Between increased customer traffic, catered events, takeout spikes, and gift purchases, waste can accumulate quickly if systems aren’t in place.

But the holidays are also the perfect opportunity to show your customers, staff, and community that sustainability is a value you operate by.

This guide offers practical, low-waste, business-friendly ideas to help cafés, restaurants, bars, markets, and hospitality teams cut waste while still delivering an exceptional holiday experience.

Quick Takeaways for a Low-Waste Holiday Season

• Holiday waste spikes by 23%, making December the ideal time to tighten systems and showcase your commitment to sustainability.

• Switching to compostable or plant-based to-go packaging is one of the fastest, most visible ways to cut waste during peak catering and takeout weeks.

• Minimize menu card waste with QR codes, chalkboards, and reusable tabletop signage.

• Donate surplus food through reliable partners to prevent holiday food waste and support your community.

• Offer low-waste gift bundles and digital gift cards to boost retail sales without single-use packaging.

• Engage customers through discounts for reusables, sustainability displays, and low-waste workshops or demos.

Sustainable Holiday Restaurant Operations

Compostable or Plant-Based To-Go Packaging

Holiday weeks mean large volumes of to-go meals, catering trays, and beverage orders. Swapping plastic or foam for compostable options immediately reduces the waste footprint of your busiest season. According to reports from Closed Loop Partners, roughly 70% of compost companies now accept compostable food packaging.

Suggested Reading: Restaurant Composting, Design a Sustainable Restaurant Menu

Best Compostable Holiday-To-Go Supplies

• Compostable cold cups for iced drinks, cocktails, and mocktails

• Hot cups + compostable lids  for holiday lattes, cocoa, and cider

• Fiber bowls for seasonal soups, curries, and chilis

• Clamshell containers  for leftovers + catering trays

• PLA clear portion cups for sauces, dressings, tasting events

• Compostable utensils for catered meals and desserts

Shop our best-selling catering supplies and drink cups.

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Sustainable Service Enhancements

Reusable Catering Ware for Local Clients

For corporate clients nearby, offer a return-and-reuse catering option:

• Reusable platters

• Metal chafing trays

• Glass drink dispensers

Pair reusable catering trays with compostable inserts (fiber bowls, lids, or tray liners) for a hybrid low-waste solution.

Holiday Menu Card Minimization

Replace single-use menu cards with:

• QR code menus

• Chalkboard displays

• Reusable tabletop signs

Staff & Team Low Waste Gift Ideas

Keep staff appreciation meaningful and sustainable:

• Reusable water bottles or tumblers

• Stainless steel lunch boxes

• Digital gift card

• Public transit gift cards

• Cooking or coffee brewing classes

• Local experience gifts

• Reusable coffee bags or airtight jars

• Free family meal using compostable to-go containers 

Back-of-House Habits to Cut Waste this Holiday Season

Switch to Reusable or Compostable Serviceware

Where possible, use reusables for dine-in and compostables for takeout.

Recommended Plastic Detox BOH products:

• Stackable compostable cold cups for drink stations

• Wooden tasting spoons for sampling holiday desserts

• Sustainable ramekins for sauces and garnishes

• Plant-based containers for takeout and leftovers

• Compostable trash bags for compostable food waste

 Stock up here with compostable holiday supplies.

Bulk Purchasing & Inventory Planning

Buying ingredients, cleaning supplies, and paper goods in bulk reduces:

• Packaging waste

• Delivery transport emissions

• Costs during the busiest season

Food Waste Tracking

Track which dishes generate most waste and adjust portions or prep accordingly to cut waste this holiday season.

Donating Excess Food

The holidays often come with unpredictable turnout meaning extra prepared food, bakery items, or packaged goods. Instead of letting surplus go to waste, partner with local charities or food rescue organizations that can quickly redistribute it to families in need.

One great option is SECOR Cares, a free food bank dedicated to supporting families experiencing food insecurity. Their team helps ensure quality food doesn’t end up in the trash but goes directly to community members who need it most. Connecting with organizations like SECOR Cares allows your business to reduce waste, support local families, and make a meaningful impact during the season of giving.

Gift Ideas & Programs That Reduce Waste

Sustainable Branded Gift Bundles

Create holiday gift sets using items that reduce single-use plastic waste:

• Reusable stainless-steel tumblers or mugs

• Cloth coffee filters

• Branded beeswax wraps

• Reusable produce or snack bags

• Refillable spice jars or tea tins

Digital Gift Cards

Skip plastic entirely by offering digital gift cards. Promote them as a waste-free option for last-minute shoppers.

Upcycled or Reused Packaging

• Repurposing coffee sacks into gift bags

• Using leftover wine boxes for retail displays

• Turning scrap paper or menus into holiday tags

Customer-Facing Waste Reduction Ideas 

Help your guests participate in your sustainability efforts:

Offer Discounts for Reusable Cups & Containers

The holidays bring in travelers and shoppers, many carry refillable bottles. If you are a café or coffee shops, this is a great way to promote a low-waste concept this holiday season.

Promote Low-Waste Cooking Classes or Demos

Host a workshop on:

• Cooking with food scraps

• Latte art masterclass

• Making homemade broths

• Creating zero-waste holiday recipes

Set Up a Holiday Sustainability Display

Showcase:

• Your compostable or plant-based packaging

• How your waste system works

• Reusable goods you sell

Eco-Friendly Kids’ Options for Family-Friendly Businesses

Parents appreciate sustainable alternatives. Consider offering:

• Wooden toys instead of plastic trinkets

• Reusable kids’ cups or plates

• Coloring sheets printed on scrap or recycled paper

• Stainless-steel snack containers

• Solar-powered or upcycled craft kits for holiday kids’ events

A More Sustainable Season Starts With Simple Choices

Holiday sustainability isn’t about perfection, it’s about small, meaningful changes that make a big impact during your highest-volume season.

By choosing low-waste gift options, improving packaging choices, and engaging both staff and customers in your mission, your business can set a powerful example and attract a growing base of eco-conscious customers.

If your team is ready to switch to plant-based or compostable food-service products, this season is the perfect time to start. Need wholesale pricing for high-volume holiday service?

Contact us for bulk rates on compostable cups, containers, plates, bowls, and utensils.

Share this guide with your staff or community and help make sustainable holidays the new standard.