Sustainability is the New Party Favour(ite): Talking Tables Birthday Survey
Sustainability is a top priority for consumers when it comes to celebrating birthdays, according to a new survey from us right here at Talking Tables.
Our poll found three-quarters (75%) of respondents actively consider sustainability in their party planning and gifting choices, as consumers embrace the trend of becoming more eco-conscious.
Eco-Friendly Celebrations on the Rise
Our survey was conducted among 204 participants across the UK in conjunction with Survey Monkey, and reveals a significant number of people are making conscious efforts to incorporate sustainable practices into their celebrations. This is true whether respondents were hosting birthday parties themselves, or celebrating the birthdays of others.
Here’s how consumers are making their parties greener:
- Decorations: The most popular way people chose to take steps to be more eco-friendly was in the party decorations they bought. More than half (54%) of respondents said they choose paper or reusable decorations, like fabric bunting, to reduce waste. Our extensive range of eco-friendly decorations ensures that your customers can celebrate sustainably without sacrificing style.
- Tableware: Over half (51%) of participants reported buying recyclable or reusable cups, plates, napkins, and cutlery. As the first brand to manufacture a fully recyclable paper cup, our collection of sustainable tableware meets this demand perfectly.
- Gifts and Party Favours: A third of those surveyed (33%) prefer sustainable gifts, such as ethically sourced or plastic-free items, and 27% select eco-friendly party favours and gift bags. Our latest games collection, which is 100% single use plastic free offers thoughtful and environmentally-friendly gifting options for your customers.
Find out what makes us more sustainable:
Key Birthday Celebration and Gifting Trends
The survey also provided insights into how people celebrate birthdays today, and as our valued trade partners, we want to share these insights to help you cater to the ever-changing needs of the modern consumer.
Here are some of the highlights from the research…
Nation of card lovers: Despite the digital age, nearly half (42%) of respondents still prefer to send physical birthday cards over digital messages, highlighting the enduring value of personal touches.
This comes as a surprise given the rise in popularity of sending birthday messages, memes and gifs on social media apps, including WhatsApp. Only 35% of respondents said they tended to use WhatsApp or text messages to wish someone a happy birthday.
Children’s Parties: An overwhelming majority (98%) of parents decorate their homes for their children’s birthdays, with balloons (92%), birthday banners (85%), and bunting (57%) being the top choices. Our diverse range of decorations can help you cater to these needs.
Reuse of Décor: Many respondents (68%) reuse birthday supplies like wrapping paper, candles, and decorations, aligning with the sustainability trend. And this is likely to include candles with a full two-thirds (66%) of people saying they use birthday candles again and again, rather than throwing them away each time.
Double or Quits: Most people (87%) prefer intimate celebrations with close family and friends – with only 9% saying they celebrated with a larger gathering of up to 20 people or more.
However, perhaps more surprisingly, it looks like many of us are partial to having more than one celebration – with almost half (46%) confessing they often have more than one birthday get-together.
Let them eat cake: Chocolate cake is the nation's favourite, chosen by 36% of respondents, just ahead of the classic Victoria Sponge at 33%. Novelty cakes (eg. Colin Caterpillar) were less popular with 11% of the vote, just above cupcakes which gained less than 10% of the vote.
Almost two thirds (64%) of respondents said they sometimes or often took cake or treats to work when it was their birthday.
Read More:
- Gift Kindly: Introducing our Sustainable New Christmas Collection
- Read our Founder's story - Clare Harris: Keeping the Table Talking for 25 Years
Leading the Way in Birthday Celebrations
Founded by Clare Harris in 1999, Talking Tables is an award-winning brand which helps the nation celebrate its birthdays - and is this year celebrating a big birthday of its own with 25 years in the business.
Talking Tables has maintained its position at the forefront of the party supplies and giftware industry for decades, offering products that meet the evolving needs of more environmentally conscious customers.
As a proud B Corp, our commitment to quality, innovation, and sustainability ensures that every celebration is not only memorable but also eco-friendly.
