Pinch at Climate Week New York: A Zero-Waste Approach to Sustainable Catering

Every September, Climate Week New York brings together leaders, innovators, and change makers from across the globe to discuss one thing that matters most: the future of our planet. At Pinch, sustainability isn’t a trend we turn on once a year, it’s the core of how we design, source, and serve every single day. That’s why we’re proud to be a chosen catering partner for Climate Week events in New York, helping companies and organizations celebrate, connect, and take climate action, deliciously.

As one of the most sustainable catering companies in New York City, we’ve built our kitchen and studio on a zero-waste philosophy. From composting food scraps to designing serving pieces from recycled materials, every detail matters. For us, catering isn’t just about serving food, it’s about designing a system that gives back.

This year, we were honored to provide sustainable catering in NYC for some of Climate Week’s most influential gatherings, including the annual Forbes Sustainability Summit and the BMW Annual Climate Week Conference. At both events, our zero-waste menus and design-driven food experiences reflected the same values being discussed on stage: innovation, responsibility, and a collective path forward.

The menu included: 

• The Atrium Bar: designed to look like a tiny zen garden, this bar brings a new meaning to the phrase "farm to table." For the event it served a: bell pepper, lemon, pomegranate, grenadine, and liquid smoke juice with freshly cut mint.

• The Cork Table: made from cork, which is one of the most sustainable resources available. Harvested without harming the tree, it’s a 100% natural material that’s renewable, recyclable, and remarkably eco-friendly. It served a beautiful breakfast spread.

• The Pinch Table: Our own design that changed our catering is served at events, this table is flat packed, and built to be used over and over again, reducing the amount of single-use table designs. It served a delicious fruiting lunch that included gem lettuce leaf salad with mustard vinaigrette, figs, crispy sunflowers, and parm.

• Pinch Passing Trays: made from recycled pressed paper, serving zero-waste one bitters like our burrata in tomato water and stuffed falafel.

Hosting a climate-conscious event in New York City means more than avoiding plastic straws. It’s about aligning every element, from venue to decor to food, with a commitment to the planet. With Pinch, that means:

• Purchasing and sourcing from local purveyors.

• Designing food furniture from reusable and recyclable materials. 

• Partnering with organizations like Zero Foodprint to support small-scale, sustainable agriculture.

• Partnering with organizations like Terrapass to offset our carbon impact.

• Delivering interactive, artful food moments that don’t compromise sustainability.

Whether it’s Climate Week NYC, a corporate sustainability summit, or a private celebration, Pinch brings the same ethos: design-forward, sustainable, and unforgettable catering. Because when it comes to climate action, we believe the food should be as inspiring as the conversation.