Founder
My Buzz
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At Party Without Plastic® we reimagine celebrations which are free from single-use plastic and waste.
In the UK alone, we throw away more than 90 million kilograms of plastic waste from parties and celebrations every single year. These events last just a few hours yet their impact on our planet can last for decades with so many party products still containing plastics and/or materials which simply sit in landfill and cannot biodegrade.
We knew there was a better way to party that removes the plastic footprint and negative impact on the environment, and imagined a marketplace that could be trusted not to ‘greenwash’, and bring together stylish party essentials all in one place (no more shopping around). Through imagination, creativity, and sheer hard work, Party Without Plastic® was launched in late Spring 2024. From tableware and decorations to party bags, favours, games, and even party hire options, everything is plastic-free as well as compostable and/or biodegradable. As if that wasn’t enough, all the products are from UK small businesses, so every sale is not only good for the planet, but also helps individuals and families behind the business.
Why shop with Party Without Plastic?
- Stylish party essentials all in one place making it quick and easy to find what you need. Time saved on shopping is time you can spend sorting the last minute details for your celebration!
- An accredited, award-winning, ethical marketplace that supports UK small business, paying them weekly on time, and no withholding of funds.
- Transparency and accountability are part of our core values so you can be confident your purchases are genuinely plastic-free (no 'greenwashing' here).
We care about product end of life. Even though what we sell is genuinely plastic-free, we still want to keep everything in the circular economy as much as possible. An exciting new addition to the marketplace to support this will be coming soon.
We’re here to disrupt the party supplies industry, and become the most effective, trusted marketplace that delivers the biggest possible impact in reducing waste, and eliminating plastic waste associated with celebrations. If you:
- Care about the environment and want to do more to help;
- Are looking for sustainable, plastic-free party supplies;
- Prefer to support small business rather than large, corporate brands;
- Love to celebrate and enjoy gorgeous décor
What are you waiting for? It’s time to shop with purpose at Party Without Plastic today!
PS. If you're a UK small business making amazing plastic-free party products, we'd love to hear from you! There is currently a waiting list to join the marketplace, but do have a look at 'Why Sell With Us' and drop me an email if you'd like an information pack.
My Bio
Hi, I'm Lorraine and the founder of the accredited, award-winning Party Without Plastic®. Although I'm not new to running a business (20+ years and counting!), this is my first eco-business and it's been an amazing journey to get here.
I am an Associate member of the Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Practitioners, and the Institute of Environmental Sciences which keeps me up to date with scientific research and decision making on areas such as plastic-free alternatives, bioplastics, life cycle assessments, and carbon footprints.
If you'd like to know more about what inspired me to start the business, do have a read of my guest blog 'From Prickles to Parties' - you may be surprised to learn that hedgehogs played a key part in it!
My Business Tips
Over the years, I've discovered 4 top tips I keep coming back to which help me start and run a business. These are:
- Test trade first – make sure people want your product/service, and find out what they’ll pay for it.
- Bootstrap, don’t borrow - it's best not to start a business with a debt (loan), so look at other ways of raising cash or the skills you need e.g. friends, family, crowdfunding, skills swap.
- Be flexible with your ideas and plans – the road to success is rarely a straight one!
- Network – it's a bit of a well worn phrase, and these days I find collaboration is definitely the way forward for mutual benefit, but start making connections as early as possible, and stay open to collaborative opportunities - if your values align and there is clear mutual benefit, it's well worth exploring!