What you need for Sustainability Day

This Sustainability Day shopping list covers the practical items needed for shared food, drinks, workshops and waste-conscious service. Plan reusable plates, bowls, glasses and cutlery for every participant, plus a few extras for breakage or late arrivals. Food preparation also needs soup equipment, serving utensils, chopping tools and enough cooling space for fresh produce. Check the list several days before the event, then buy fresh ingredients as close to the day as possible.

Organize this event for free with Lizzt

What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Tablesqty 12
Chairsqty 120
Lounge sofasqty 4
Foldable tablesqty 4
Bar stoolsqty 8
Coat racksqty 3
Stoolsqty 20
Tableclothsqty 12

Tableware

Reusable platesqty 140
Reusable bowlsqty 120
Reusable glassesqty 180
Coffee cupsqty 100
Knivesqty 140
Forksqty 140
Spoonsqty 140
Teaspoonsqty 100
Serving spoonsqty 12
Serving plattersqty 16
Serving tongsqty 8

Kitchen

Soup bowlsqty 8
Soup kettlesqty 3
Food warmersqty 4
Cutting boardsqty 8
Chef's knivesqty 8
Mixing bowlsqty 8
Measuring cupsqty 4
Coolersqty 6
Thermos flasksqty 8
Water jugsqty 12
Drink dispensersqty 4
Serving traysqty 8

Equipment

Coffee machinesqty 3
Kettlesqty 4
Refrigeratorsqty 2
Projector
Projection screen
Laptop
Portable speakerqty 2
Microphoneqty 2
Extension cordsqty 8
Power stripsqty 8
Charging cablesqty 8

Lighting

LED lightsqty 12
LED garlandsqty 6
Desk lampsqty 4

Decorations

Reusable buntingqty 6
Plantsqty 12
Chalkboardsqty 8
Chalk markersqty 12
Table décorqty 12

Communication

Name badgesqty 120
Badge holdersqty 120
Program boardsqty 6
Directional signsqty 10
Information leafletsqty 150
Markersqty 24
Pensqty 50

Sports equipment

Workshop tablesqty 8
Garden glovesqty 30
Hand shovelsqty 20
Watering canqty 6
Sewing machinesqty 4
Sewing scissorsqty 12
Hammerqty 6
Screwdriversqty 12

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 12
Compost binsqty 4
Cleaning bucketsqty 6
Mopsqty 6
Broom setsqty 4
Litter pickersqty 4
Reusable cleaning clothsqty 30
Washing-up tubsqty 4

Catering

Groceries
- Coffee - 3 kilos
- Decaf coffee - 500 grams
- Black tea - 200 bags
- Herbal tea - 100 bags
- Sugar - 2 kilos
- Oat milk - 15 liters
- Semi-skimmed milk - 8 liters
- Lemons - 3 kilos
- Tap water - 100 liters
- Sparkling water - 40 liters
- Apple juice - 20 liters
- Organic lemonade - 20 liters
- Apples - 15 kilo
- Bananas - 12 kilo
- Pears - 10 kilos
- Oranges - 10 kilos
- Grapes - 8 kilos
- Whole wheat bread - 20 loaves
- Wholemeal rolls - 120 pieces
- Whole wheat wraps - 100 pieces
- Plain hummus - 8 tubs
- Hummus and bell pepper - 6 tubs
- Falafel - 8 kg
- Young cheese - 5 kilos
- Vegan cheese - 2 kilo
- Cream cheese - 2 kilo
- Unsalted butter - 2 kilos
- Margarine - 2 kilo
- Strawberry jam - 4 jars
- Peanut butter - 4 jars
- Cucumbers - 8 kilos
- Tomatoes - 8 kilo
- Iceberg lettuce - 12 heads
- Carrots - 6 kilos
- Bell peppers - 5 kilos
- Red onions - 3 kilos
- Zucchini - 5 kilos
- Mushrooms - 4 kilos
- Garlic - 500 grams
- Chickpeas - 5 kilos
- Lentils - 5 kilo
- Diced tomatoes - 20 cans
- Vegetable bouillon - 2 kilo
- Coconut milk - 10 liters
- Brown rice - 8 kilos
- Couscous - 6 kilos
- Olive oil - 5 liters
- Sunflower oil - 2 liters
- Balsamic vinegar - 2 liters
- Apple cider vinegar - 1 liter
- Mayonnaise - 3 jars
- Vegan mayonnaise - 2 jars
- Mustard - 3 jars
- Ketchup - 3 bottles
- Pesto - 4 jars
- Sambal - 2 jars
- Salt - 1 kilo
- Black pepper - 250 grams
- Paprika powder - 250 gram
- Cumin - 250 grams
- Curry powder - 250 grams
- Dried oregano - 100 grams
- Walnuts - 3 kilo
- Almonds - 3 kilos
- Whole grain crackers - 15 packs
- Paprika chips - 10 bags
- Plain chips - 10 bags
- Oatmeal cookies - 12 packs
- Apple pies - 6 pieces
- Lemon cake - 6 pieces
- Potting soil - 200 liters
- Organic flower seeds - 100 packets
- Herb seeds - 50 packets
- Wooden plant labels - 150 pieces
- Cotton cloths - 10 kilos
- Wool scraps - 5 kilos
- Wooden craft sticks - 500 pieces
- Rope - 500 meters
- Paper napkins - 300 pieces
- Hand soap - 6 bottles
- Organic dish soap - 4 liters
- All-purpose cleaner - 4 liters
- Toilet cleaner - 3 bottles
- Paper towels - 12 rolls
- Toilet paper - 48 rolls
- Recycled trash bags - 100 pieces
- Compostable trash bags - 50
- Cleaning sponges - 12 pieces
- Rubber gloves - 12 pairs

Tips

Count reusable plates, bowls, glasses and sets of cutlery against the final participant list, then add around 10% extra. This prevents shortages when registrations change or items are dropped.
Plan two to three drinks per person for the first hour, then about one drink per person for each additional hour. Use water jugs or drink dispensers and chill drinks before guests arrive.
For soup and sandwiches, check that you have at least one soup kettle or food warmer per hot dish, plus serving spoons, platters and tongs. Prepare fresh vegetables on the day or no earlier than the previous evening.
Match workshop materials to the number of registered participants and facilitators, with one spare set for every 10 people. Sort the materials before the event so facilitators are not searching during the first session.
Do not leave waste separation until setup time: bring the required bins or collection containers and display the waste separation plan before food service begins. Keep route signs, name badges and printed programs together so they are not forgotten during shopping.

Frequently asked questions

How much reusable tableware do I need for Sustainability Day?: Plan one plate, bowl, glass and complete set of cutlery per participant, plus 10% extra. For 50 participants, that means at least 55 of each frequently used item.
How many drinks should I buy for Sustainability Day?: Allow two to three drinks per person for the first hour and one additional drink per person for each later hour. For 50 people over three hours, plan roughly 200 to 250 servings, including water, coffee and tea.
When should I buy fresh food for Sustainability Day?: Buy fresh vegetables and other perishable ingredients on the event day or the day before. Check quantities against the latest participant list 24 to 48 hours before shopping.
What kitchen equipment is needed to serve soup and sandwiches?: You need soup bowls, soup kettles or food warmers, serving spoons, platters and tongs, as well as cutting boards, chef’s knives and mixing bowls. Prepare and check this equipment at least one day before the event.

Start this plan in Lizzt

Every task and item on this page, ready in your own event. Invite people, split the work, and see who has done what.