Kicking the carbon out of Christmas as Conference Aston brings party-goers low carbon festive favourites

  • Easy Carbon-Impact guide offered at this year’s Christmas dinner menu at Conference Aston 
  • The venue is in partnership with menu management software Kafoodle 

This holiday season, enjoy a festive meal that is as environmentally conscious as it is delicious at Conference Aston, Birmingham’s leading events and conference venue. One of the first venues in the West Midlands to launch the initiative for party nights, Conference Aston’s Christmas menu proudly displays the carbon emissions for each dish, making it easier for the guests to celebrate with a lighter footprint and understand the environmental impact of their food choices. 

In a time when sustainability is more important than ever, Conference Aston is leading the way in promoting awareness and eco-friendly options. Each dish on the holiday menu comes with a carbon rating allowing guests to make informed decisions that align with their environmental values while savouring seasonal flavours.

The venue’s partnership with Kafoodle’s menu management and carbon monitoring software means the guests can now see at a glance how their food choices impact the environment. 

For example, opting for the delicious steamed Christmas pudding with quince jam and white rum vanilla sauce at just 0.31kg CO2e – lets diners enjoy the holidays with a minimal carbon impact, the traditional Christmas Turkey is also one of the lowest footprints, allowing guests to get the full festive experience.

Incorporating these ratings and encouraging guests to make the most sustainable choice can have a huge impact on the venue and its clients, especially during the Christmas season when party nights can welcome 250 guests. Multiplying the carbon impact over this many people over several nights makes a significant difference, whilst helping organisations meet their corporate social responsibility values during their festive celebrations. 

With two-thirds of UK diners now considering plant-based options, Conference Aston’s Christmas menu offers vegan and low-emission dishes, perfect for any taste and celebrate the jolly season while supporting a greener planet. 

Samantha Brown, Head of Conference Aston, said: “It’s a common misconception that choosing local is always better. But that’s not necessarily the case. This initiative encourages people to rethink their consumption habits, consider the products they’re buying, and make more ethical shopping choices.

“This updated menu aims to help people reflect on how their everyday choices affect the environment and to inspire them to make decisions that support the planet. Every small action counts and initiatives like this can spark conversations that lead to real awareness about what we can do to protect our environment.”

Paul Harris, Executive Head Chef at Conference Aston, added: “In our kitchen, we prioritise healthy, sustainable and responsible menu development, we work closely with our suppliers to consider the total food journey and its carbon impact from source to plate. This is a crucial initiative for us as sustainability is at the root of everything we do here at Conference Aston, especially given the climate crisis we’re facing. We’re incredibly proud to be contributing in any way we can.”