The Joy of Reuse: How Erin Rhoads Made Reusable Tableware More Accessible
- Party Kit Network
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
When Erin Rhoads watched The Clean Bin Project for the first time, it changed everything.
“That documentary showed me the collective impact single-use plastic and waste was having on people, animals and the planet,” she says. “After the credits rolled, I thought I’ve got to do something and that's when I discovered Plastic Free July.”
Erin started with ditching single-use plastics, shopping at bulk stores and getting into composting. What started as a personal mission to reduce waste soon became a public journey. Erin began blogging under the name The Rogue Ginger, sharing her experiments in low-waste living. Her tips, stories, and honest reflections struck a chord and she was soon speaking at events, hosting workshops, appearing on TV and even writing books (Waste Not and Waste Not Everyday). She’s since become a familiar face in Australia’s zero-waste movement - campaigning for the plastic bag ban, co-founding the country’s first Zero Waste Festival, and working on the BYO Containers initiative.
But one of Erin’s simplest actions against unnecessary waste has been starting a party kit!
The Party That Sparked a Movement
Erin launched her kit after planning her eldest child’s first birthday party, eight years ago. Like many parents trying to reduce waste, she struggled to find an easy alternative to disposable tableware.
What started as a personal solution soon became a neighbourhood resource - a simple, practical way for local families to avoid unnecessary party waste.
“My motivation was to make it easier for other families to have easy access to reusables,” she says.
Then, in 2020, Erin came across the UK-based Party Kit Network sparking a collaboration that helped bring the Network to Australia. Today, there are over 145 party kits across the country.
How Erin’s Party Kit Works
One of the benefits of party kits is that the concept is really adaptable. Party kits are run in a variety of ways, but all include a minimum of reusable plates and cups and are run by people passionate about making reusables more accessible.
Erin’s own party kit includes reusable plates, cups, bowls, cutlery, bunting, a jug, and even a reusable pass-the-parcel game. She further reduced the environmental impact of her party kit by sourcing most of the items secondhand, from op shops and swap groups. It’s most often used for children’s birthdays, though it’s also made appearances at weddings, picnics, and other social gatherings.
Bookings are made through the Party Kit Network website, and Erin coordinates collection and return via text. Hires usually span a weekend and are offered free of charge, with donations to the Network encouraged.
In 2024 alone, Erin’s kit helped avoid 6,734 single-use items.
“When a parent collects a kit for the first time I’m filled with joy when they tell me how easy borrowing a party kit makes planning a party,” she says. “It’s a really simple idea with a big environmental and social impact.”
Getting the Word Out
As Erin will tell you, a party kit doesn’t promote itself.
“Staying on top of marketing is the hardest for me,” she admits. “Keeping reminders in my calendar has been very useful - and I learned that from a fellow Party Kit Network member!”
Over the years, she’s found a variety of ways to reach local families. Sharing posts about her party kit on community Facebook groups around four times a year has been particularly effective. She’s also asked local shops, daycare centres and schools to support her, putting up posters or mentioning her kit in their newsletters.
The early effort has all paid off with many of her kit hires now repeat families.
Erin’s role representing the Party Kit Network in Australia and other zero waste projects has brought media opportunities, but most of her own party kit bookings still come from simple, word-of-mouth recommendations.
“I always ask where they found out about my kit, which helps track where I should focus my marketing too.”
The Joy of Giving (and Receiving)
Beyond the impact on waste, what Erin values most are the personal moments.
Erin has received all sorts of unexpected thank you presents: jams, chutneys, honey, plants, flowers, and beautiful letters from children, creating a really lovely moment of sharing.
The experience has been especially meaningful as a parent herself.
“I found it harder to make eco-friendly choices after becoming a mum. So when someone tells me the party kit took all the stress out of making a party more sustainable, that’s the best thing for me.”
Thinking About Starting Your Own Kit?
If you’re inspired by Erin’s story, she has some advice:
“Put together a game plan for where and how you’ll market your kit. Make a list of local Facebook groups, festivals, schools or cafes where you could spread the word. Posters, social media, and good signage can go a long way. And definitely use the Party Kit Network Facebook group for support – the crew there are great!”
She’s hopeful that more people will join the movement:
“I believe a reusable party kit will be in every country, every county, every town across the world,” she says. “No one will think twice about choosing reusables over single-use, because reusables will be the norm.”
Inspired to set up a party kit?
