The environment is a growing concern, and so more of us than ever before are trying to live in a sustainable and eco-friendly way. From recycling to electric cars, there are many different aspects of our lives that we can change to improve things for the better of the planet.
But what about weddings? We want to enjoy our big day, of course, and don’t necessarily want to compromise on the celebrations. Inevitably, however, weddings produce a lot of waste – and come with a big carbon footprint as a result. People travel from miles around to attend, and huge quantities of food are prepared, much of which is never even eaten. Research shows, for example, that the average UK wedding produces 14.5 tonnes of CO2 and wastes £488 worth of food.
Read on to find out why an eco-friendly wedding has benefits for both you and the planet as a whole.
1. Protect the planet
The main benefit of an eco-friendly wedding, of course, is obvious: you will be helping to protect the planet. Global warming is accelerating climate change, and time is running out. Glaciers are melting, sea levels are rising, and wildlife habitats are being destroyed. Greenhouse gases are at their highest level for 800,000 years, and we need to do all we can to minimise our own contribution to this rise.
In the grand scheme of things, of course, it’s hard to see how our individual choices can make any difference to such a huge, planetary-scale problem. But even through something as simple as an eco-friendly wedding, our choices can make more of a difference than we may think.
Your friends may be inspired to make similar choices for their own wedding, and in their wider lives as a whole. Although one wedding won’t make a huge difference, it could be part of a bigger movement. Leading by example, you can encourage others to follow – setting off a chain reaction as they influence their friends, and their friends influence others, and so on. When green choices are taken up on a societal scale in this way, they can make a huge impact.
2. Support green businesses
Whether it’s in your choice of venue, food caterer, decorator, wedding attire, jewellery, or even confetti, there are a huge range of opportunities to support green businesses when planning your wedding. By giving these businesses your custom, you will be rewarding their eco-friendly practices.
As well as the benefit of supporting a deserving business, you will be having the additional benefit of influencing the market. The more demand there is for eco-friendly businesses, the better. These companies will prosper, and others will have to adapt their practices to meet the market conditions. This is certainly one concrete benefit of choosing an eco-friendly wedding that should not be underestimated.
3. Enjoy your celebration guilt-free
Although eco-friendly weddings take some planning and research, the end results are definitely worth the effort. On top of the benefits we’ve already explored, you’ll also have the personal benefit of being able to truly enjoy your wedding day guilt-free – knowing that you’ve done all you can to minimise your impact on the planet.
Article Submitted By Community Writer
