The interest for eco-friendly weddings has peaked in the last years, due to an increasing number of wedding suppliers who are focused on reducing waste and sourcing clean and cruelty-free.
With a little effort and dedication, you too can have a wedding that doesn’t cost the earth – literally.
What Does it Mean to be Zero-Waste?
A zero-waste wedding is part of a zero-waste lifestyle. According to the Center for EcoTechnology, Zero Waste is ‘a movement to reduce the amount one consumes and consequently throws away. Adopting a Zero Waste lifestyle is one of the most sustainable ways of living. Zero-waste lifestyle choices influence all environmental areas by preventing resource extraction, reducing the amount of materials sent to the landfill or incinerator, and reducing pollution from producing, transporting, or disposing of materials.’
Zero-waste habits include:
- reusing items until they no longer work;
- repairing when possible;
- recycling only when all previous options have been explored;
- refusing what you don’t need, such as straws in restaurants.
Adopting a zero-waste lifestyle not only protects the environment, but is also more affordable and may enable you to save money. Zero-waste does not mean you have to give up practicality. There is an entire industry supporting the zero-waste lifestyle choice, allowing you to maintain a comfortable lifestyle without producing lots of waste that goes to the landfill.
What is a zero-waste wedding?
Those who have adopted a zero-waste lifestyle follow their principles in all aspects of their lives, from daily situations to important family events. Zero-waste weddings have gained popularity in the last decade, due to an increasing number of couples looking to reduce the environmental impact that their big day has.
The challenge is to reduce wedding waste without losing out on feel and beauty. Due to the increasing number of eco-friendly wedding suppliers, this is no longer just a possibility, but can actually represent a more attractive option for your big day.
Many couples aim for an eco-friendly wedding or sustainable wedding as a zero-waste celebration tends to be much harder to achieve. There is a difference between the two concepts. Sustainable means using less of the earth’s natural resources, with the aim of creating the least amount of environmental damage. Zero waste, on the other hand, means sending absolutely nothing to landfill. The items you don’t use anymore are sent to recycling or composted. This means, among others, that you must not use goods made from materials that cannot be recycled.
Why Plan a Zero-Waste Wedding?
Wedding planning can already be complicated and a huge challenge and many couples are afraid of trying to implement the zero-waste philosophy into their nuptial festivities. However, making an effort and having at least an eco-friendly wedding if not a zero-waste one comes with two major benefits:
Number 1 – Helping to Protect the Environment
Unsurprisingly, plastic is at the heart of the issue. Plastic takes thousands of years to break down, and the average Australian wedding can produce dozens of kilograms of plastic that ends up in the landfill unless you recycle it. So if you cut plastic from your big day, you are definitely helping cut down on the landfill contribution.
Number 2 – Saving You Money!
Reducing food waste is an important part of the zero-waste lifestyle. Notoriously large amounts of food end up in the bin at weddings and other events, as organisers want to make sure there is plenty of food for everyone. Unfortunately, you pay for the food that is wasted while also consuming the planet’s resources in an unethical manner. Alternatives such as food trucks, shared dining, buffets, and canapes prevent food waste at weddings and help you save money. The food that remains can be donated or offered to guests and staff.
Tips for a Zero-Waste/ Low Waste Wedding
An experienced wedding planner can help you plan your zero-waste wedding, whether you organise it in your backyard or at a Whitsunday wedding venue. Before you get to talk to a wedding planning Qld expert that is knowledgeable about sustainable weddings, here are some points to keep in mind:
- Use Local Florist Services
Avoid exotic flowers that need prolific use of chemicals to last the distance. Lots of florists have stuck to local florals minus the chemicals, enabling you to use gorgeous locally sourced and sustainable flowers in your wedding.
When the wedding night is over, the leftover wedding flowers can be donated to hospitals, nursing homes, or if they’re looking sad they can go to green waste and back to the earth.
- Natural Options for your Wedding Dress
Consider organic cotton and linen for your wedding gown, as traditional fabrics cause extensive pollution. There is also the option of wearing a pre-loved dress, although this choice is not entirely zero-waste if the dress is manufactured using traditional processes.
- Natural Beauty Products
Going zero or low waste doesn’t mean you will have to give up on makeup and hairstyling. You just need to look for hair and makeup artists that share your values; they should use products that are not tested on animals and that are made with ingredients coming from organic agriculture.
- Zero-waste catering
Catering is one of the wedding services causing the largest amounts of waste, yet it is incredibly simple to reduce the severity of this problem. Things to look at is venues composting leftovers, donating remaining food, packing food for guests and staff, and using compostable containers etc.
- Paperless Invitations
Online invitations are all the rage because they are so much cheaper and don’t produce waste. However, if you don’t want to give up on this treasured wedding item, use recycled paper and possibly consider crafting your own wedding invitations.
- Shopping locally
Sourcing your products and services from local suppliers injects cash into the local economy, while also reducing travel, packaging, and waste from shipping operations.
- Eco-friendly Confetti
It’s hard to imagine a wedding without confetti, but the burst of colour at your wedding can seriously harm the environment. Confetti containing micro-plastics are dangerous for animals and humans, so opt instead for confetti made from plants or dried petals. Check this eco-confetti business and you will see these zero-waste options are just as thrilling as their traditional version!
- Wedding Favours
Bonbonnieres are indispensable at weddings and represent a beautiful tradition, but unfortunately these items often end in the litter bin, including edible ones. The good news is there are many options available that align with the zero-waste concept. Think reusable jars filled with honey or home-made marmalade or plantable seed paper hearts.
- Décor
Wedding decors can produce huge amounts of waste, especially when couples have an original idea and don’t use existing items. One option is using natural materials that can be composted or repurposed; the other solution is opting for a location that is beautiful enough itself so it does not need additional décor elements. Villa Botanica is an exquisite destination wedding venue that benefits from natural beauties such as the Coral Sea, the lush palm forest, landscaped gardens, Balinese backdrops, and white sand beaches. You have the perfect backdrop for your wedding photos without needing décor!
Worried that a zero-waste wedding is hard to achieve? Don’t be afraid to express your wishes. When enough couples ask, businesses listen. Moreover, an eco-friendly wedding does not oblige you to opt for a rustic theme – you can make your sustainable wedding as glamorous and exciting as it can be!
Vila Botanica is a favourite destination wedding venue that has plenty of experience creating custom weddings that cater to the needs and desires of a variety of couples. We are up to date with 2022 wedding themes, including the zero-waste wedding concept. We think this type of wedding is here to stay and represents more than just a trend – contact us today for advice on how to plan a wedding that celebrates your love for each other and for the planet!
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