April 2006 | Co-op America’s Living Green
Greening Your Wedding
Dear Co-op America, We’d like to green our wedding. Do you have any suggestions? — A Happy Green Couple, E-mail
Yes, there are many ways to green a wedding or commitment ceremony. The first step can often be choosing what not to buy. For instance, instead of sending out traditional virgin-pulp paper invitations complete with three envelopes and tissue paper, try handmade-paper invitations from Greenfield Paper Company (619/583-3314, greenfieldpaper.com) or Twisted Limb Paperworks (812/876-9352, twistedlimbpaper.com), made from a blend of recycled paper, junk mail, and tree-free materials.
Tree-free kenaf plant paper is available from Vision Paper (visionpaper.com) and tree-free hemp and flax paper can be ordered from Living Tree (livingtreepaper.com). Or, you might send your invitations via a free e-mail service like Evite.com.
If you’d like to exchange rings, consider purchasing from a sustainable company to avoid the serious labor and environmental problems plaguing the mining of gold and many precious gems. Leber Jeweler (708/246-1455, www.leberjeweler.com) and GreenKarat (800/330-4605, greenkarat.com) sell rings made from recycled gold and platinum. Sumiche (541/896-9841, sumiche.com) sells handcrafted gold and platinum rings from responsibly mined sources.
For wedding wear, consider renting. Yes, it’s easy for men to find tuxedos to rent, but women can also find rentable formalwear. Check the “Formalwear — Rental” category of your local Yellow Pages. You can also check consignment shops or vintage stores for secondhand suits or wedding gowns, or peruse the classifieds at NearlyNewBridal.com. The Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation (503/252-3955, makingmemories.org) sells used wedding gowns at events across the country to support its mission of granting wishes to terminal breast cancer patients. Or, you can have a tailor make your gown from natural eco-fabrics like organic cotton, Peace Silk (made without killing the silk worm), or a hemp-silk blend. OrganicWeddings.com offers eco-fabrics suitable for wedding gowns.
For the reception, make as many local purchases as possible to keep money in your local economy. Ask your catering company if it can provide organic food, organic beer or wine, and Fair Trade coffee or tea. Avoid using disposable dishware.
When it comes to green decor, consider buying organic flowers from a local shop or place an order with OrganicBouquet.com. And use 100-percent soy or vegetable wax candles.
For more ideas, visit OrganicWeddings.com.
Dear Co-op America, I would like to switch to green power. How can I find out if it’s available in my state? — Joe in Portland, ME
The Department of Energy offers a nationwide list of green power options online (eere.energy.gov/greenpower/buying). If your energy company doesn’t offer green power, you can offset your carbon dioxide emissions by purchasing “green tags,” which are energy credits that add renewable power to the grid equal to the power you use at home. Many green tag programs exist. Co-op America offers one in partnership with NativeEnergy (800/924-6826, nativenergy.com/coop).
Living Green is brought to you by Co-op America, a national nonprofit that provides green living, purchasing, and investing tips and resources. To join Co-op America and get a free copy of the National Green Pages™ directory of green businesses, call 800/58-GREEN, www.coopamerica.org. E-mail your Living Green questions.
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