Going
Green
Our favourite wedding trend of 2019 isn’t a colour or a look – it’s sustainability. Lucy Mackey investigates how you can cut down on wedding waste to impact the environment and your community in a positive way.
Making sustainability your wedding theme doesn’t mean compromising on the day you’ve always wanted. You can have your proverbial cake and eat it, too, by focusing on these key principles: cutting down on waste, sourcing local, and making environmentally conscious swaps.
WEDDING WASTAGE
Wastage isn’t the first word that springs to mind when talking about weddings, but the aftermath of a wedding can look rather grim. Unfortunately, the end of many weddings sees venue staff filling garbage bags with flowers, discarded food, forgotten bombonieres and crumpled stationery – and the end destination is landfill. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Weddings are replete with traditional elements that we include, because, well, it’s tradition! In your quest for sustainable practices, ask yourself: is this element necessary, or am I just including it because it’s traditional? An easy way to cut down on waste (and save yourself money) is to do without excessive paraphernalia.
GO LOCAL
When it comes to food, drinks and services, look at local options first. Not only will you cut down on fuel emissions generated by long-distance transportation, but you’ll be supporting local businesses. You might even have access to some great deals and products not offered by national chains. When it comes to food and flowers, looking local means the product will be seasonal, and more fresh than an imported variety.
FLOWERS FOR GOOD
It’s the unfortunate fate of many beautiful bouquets to be shoved in a garbage bag at the end of your function, which frankly, is a waste of money, resources, and the time and skill that went into creating them.
But there’s plenty you can do to salvage your flowers. If you don’t plan on taking them home with you, offer them to your guests. If one of your guests is florally inclined, ask them to break down the large bouquets into small posies at the end of the night, and provide some biodegradable wrappings for your guests to transport them in.
If this doesn’t take care of the flowers, consider donating them. Receiving flowers makes most of us feel pretty special, and a lot of hospitals and nursing homes take donations of blooms to brighten up their wards. At the end of the function, ask one of your guests, or your florist, to collect the surplus and donate them the next day. Just confirm ahead of time with your preferred institution, as some hospitals have rules about what they can accept.
When it comes to selecting your flowers, look to locally grown, organic selections. By opting for what’s in season, you’ll save money and often end up with healthier, rosier flowers. If you have a colour scheme in mind, speak to your florist about what’s in season. Chances are, there’s something in your desired colour! If you’ve got your heart set on a particular bloom, ask for something that looks similar. For example, poor man’s orchid makes a suitable swap for the real thing, and they’re also hardier and cheaper. Eucalyptus always makes a beautiful addition to a bouquet, providing volume, texture, and a range of colours and shapes from soft, silver discs to verdant crescents. And, of course, ensure that your florist uses biodegradable wrapping!
TAKE ME HOME TONIGHT
The food is one of the most important elements of any wedding, but also one of the largest contributors to wastage. Unfortunately, due to occupational health and safety regulations, donating food can become logistically tricky – especially cooked meals – but there are a few things you can do to minimise the food waste.
The first step is to speak to your venue or caterer to find out how they deal with food waste. They might be affiliated with food recycling companies such as Oz Harvest, which operates throughout the country collecting a range of products from commercial kitchens, including fruit, vegetables, meat, and dry and canned goods past their bestbefore date. Another thing to ask is if the kitchen practices composting for food scraps.
There’s bound to be plenty of food left at the end of the reception. Depending on what form your catering takes, you might be able to take some home with you. If appropriate, consider providing recycled cardboard takeaway boxes so your guests can take away leftovers. Just be sure to speak with the venue manager to ensure food isn’t left sitting out too long; for example, on the buffet.
Finally, consider opting for a plant-based menu. Whatever makes up your menu, look to hero fresh, local produce first.
DITCH PAPER AND PLASTIC
Reducing plastic use is so much easier today than it was even a year ago. October 2018 saw Princess Eugenie host a plastic-free wedding, but don’t worry, you don’t have to have a royal budget to follow suit. A few things to watch out for are: wrappings on flowers, disposable cutlery, plastic plates and straws. By using silverware, you can cut down the use of plastic significantly.
For the paper elements you do want to include (we’re not saying to do away with the invitations) look at recycled or sustainable options.
Recycled paper, or paper made with alternative fibres such as bamboo, often have a beautiful texture.
Another option is to print on seed paper. This unique product is embedded with seeds, so after the wedding, your guests can plant their place card or invitation in their garden and watch as it grows into something beautiful.
WISH YOU WELL
Receiving a gift is lovely, but what isn’t is getting a gift you already have or don’t want. With the majority of Australian couples living together before they get married, chances are you’ve already got a food processor and a nice set of sheets. If you find you’re already stocked up on typical wedding gifts, consider a wishing well. By asking guests to contribute to a large purchase like your honeymoon, they’ll be able to give a gift that will be really appreciated, and you’ll cut down on packaging and things that will end up in landfill.
Another suggestion, favoured at Christmas time, is to ask guests to buy a goat, a well, or a toilet – but not for you. Select your favourite charity, or let guests choose one, and ask for donations in lieu of a gift. This will not only reduce waste, but will ensure the gift goes where it’s really needed.
PLAY FAIR(TRADE)
Beautiful engagement rings can have an ugly side, and that’s the impact mining has on its surrounding community and environment. The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme was initiated in 2003 to ensure consumers can confidently buy conflict-free diamonds, ensuring that raw diamonds come from a carefully selected mine. When purchasing your jewellery, make sure it comes with proof of certification, and if in doubt, do a little research.
There’s also the option of laboratory-grown diamonds. Identical in appearance and chemical structure to mined diamonds, these diamonds come without the cost to the environment.
In addition, they are around twenty percent cheaper than mined diamonds, as they require considerably less labour to create them. Companies such as Ethical Jewellery Australia offer laboratory-grown diamonds for the ethical consumer. Their diamonds are subject to the same strict quality controls as those found naturally.
HIRE, DON’T BUY
Whatever your theme, be it rustic, luxe or beachy, you’re sure to require a plethora of props and furniture. To cut down on solid waste and expenses, consider hiring as much as you can, rather than making a purchase. While hiring larger furniture, like the chairs and signing table, is the norm, many couples still purchase the smaller pieces of décor. A practical and sustainable idea is to hire all the smaller pieces of décor as well. This means you won’t be purchasing things you’ll be unlikely to reuse, and as an added bonus, most hire companies will deliver and collect their products for you.
DO A FAVOUR
Offering your guests a little something to take away with them is always a lovely idea, but unfortunately many bombonieres often incorporate plastic in their make or packaging! When selecting bombonieres, look for recyclable and biodegradable materials, and above all else, make them meaningful for your guests. Some popular ideas prominent in the last year include signature jam or candles (in a glass jar), chocolate (packaged in cardboard, not plastic), and succulents (in cardboard pots). Another idea is to include small tree-cuttings in a jiffy pot, ready to plant.
To look at some broad figures, Easy Weddings estimates that there are approximately 118,000 weddings in Australia each year, each with an average of 100 guests in attendance. So if every guest planted a tree, that would mean nearly 12 million new trees a year!
Another idea embraced by contemporary couples is to make a donation to charity in place of giving a bomboniere. One way to do this is to set up different jars for different charities and give guests a small token to place in favour of their favourite organisation. At the end of the reception, tally up the tokens and put a donation towards the most popular charity.
DITCH PAPER AND PLASTIC
Reducing plastic use is so much easier today than it was even a year ago. October 2018 saw Princess Eugenie host a plastic-free wedding, but don’t worry, you don’t have to have a royal budget to follow suit. A few things to watch out for are: wrappings on flowers, disposable cutlery, plastic plates and straws. By using silverware, you can cut down the use of plastic significantly.
For the paper elements you do want to include (we’re not saying to do away with the invitations) look at recycled or sustainable options. Recycled paper, or paper made with alternative fibres such as bamboo, often have a beautiful texture.
Another option is to print on seed paper. This unique product is embedded with seeds, so after the wedding, your guests can plant their place card or invitation in their garden and watch as it grows into something beautiful.