Say ‘I Do’ in Sustainable Style

Begin your green wedding journey with sustainable wedding attire. Seek out designers specializing in eco-friendly materials, consider a chic second-hand dress, or explore rental options. Remember, sustainable fashion can be both trendy and elegant. Today, many bridal shops offer a ‘green’ line featuring gowns made from organic cotton, hemp, and even bamboo. You could also consider accessories made from recycled materials, adding an extra touch of sustainability to your outfit.

Make the Most of a Venue’s In-House Charm

Before splurging on new decorations, check what your venue already offers. Many venues have a selection of decor items included in their package, reducing the need for single-use items. If you need more, consider renting from local suppliers. Often, these venues have partnerships with local vendors who can provide additional items such as linens, centerpieces, and lighting. Also, think about using the natural features of the venue as part of your decor, like a beautiful tree or a charming fireplace.

Offset Carbon Footprints with Love

Balance the carbon emissions from your big day by supporting initiatives that focus on carbon reduction. Make it a part of your love story that not only unites two hearts but also contributes to preserving the planet. Consider calculating the carbon footprint of your wedding — including travel, energy use, and food production — and then donate an equivalent amount to a green charity or project. It’s a wonderful way to give back and make your special day even more meaningful.

Green Rides for Happy Guests

Encourage your guests to share rides or use public transport. It’s a small step that can significantly reduce the overall carbon footprint of your event. Plus, it’s a fun way for guests to mingle! If your venue is in a remote location, consider arranging a shuttle service from a central location. Not only does this cut down on emissions, but it also ensures everyone can enjoy the celebrations without worrying about driving home. Visit Climate Wave to learn more about how they can assist you with sustainable event management!

Gift Registry with a Green Twist

When setting up your gift registry, choose items that are eco-friendly. This could be anything from organic cotton sheets to recycled kitchenware. Alternatively, ask guests to donate to a charity close to your heart. You can also include experiences or services on your registry, like a cooking class or a massage, which don’t require any physical products at all.

Savor the Sweetness of a Sustainable Cake

Even your wedding cake can echo your commitment to sustainability. Opt for bakers who use locally-sourced, organic ingredients and avoid excess packaging. Consider a cake size that matches your guest list to minimize waste. Ask your baker about vegan cakes, which are often more environmentally friendly. And remember, the cake doesn’t have to be large to make an impact — a small, beautifully decorated cake can be just as memorable.

House Plants for a Lasting Memory

Swap traditional floral arrangements with attractive houseplants. Not only will they add a unique touch to your decor, but they can also serve as gifts for guests or become a part of your home decor after the wedding. Choose plants that are easy to care for, and that will thrive in various home environments. For more ideas and information on sustainable plant choices, you can visit https://homegardenhero.com/. You could even include care instructions and a note about the plant’s significance as a memento of your special day.

Planning a green wedding is about making conscious choices that reflect your shared values and commitment to the planet. Every decision, from saving on decor to requesting green gifts, can contribute to a sustainable celebration without compromising on elegance or style. Ultimately, you’re creating a unique love story that not only honors each other but also respects the environment, setting a precedent for your future together. Celebrate your love by saying ‘I do’ to a greener planet and a brighter future.

What is compostable food packaging? Compostable food packaging is packaging that is made from materials designed to break down naturally in a composting environment.

What materials are compostable food packaging made from? Compostable food packaging can be made from a variety of materials, including plant-based materials such as cornstarch, sugarcane, and potato starch, as well as other biodegradable materials such as paper and cardboard.

Is compostable food packaging better for the environment than traditional plastic packaging? Compostable food packaging is generally considered to be more environmentally friendly than traditional plastic packaging, as it breaks down naturally in a composting environment and does not contribute to the accumulation of plastic waste in landfills and oceans.

Can compostable food packaging be recycled? Compostable food packaging is not always recyclable, as it requires specialised recycling facilities to properly break down. However, it can be composted in a commercial composting facility or in a backyard composting system.

What is the difference between biodegradable and compostable food packaging? Biodegradable packaging refers to packaging that is designed to break down over time, but it may not necessarily break down completely or turn into compost. Compostable packaging, on the other hand, is designed to break down completely and turn into compost in a composting environment.

Are there any downsides to using compostable food packaging? Compostable food packaging may be more expensive than traditional plastic packaging, and it requires specialised composting facilities to break down properly.

Is compostable food packaging toxic? Compostable food packaging is generally not considered toxic. However, it is important to note that some compostable food packaging may contain small amounts of chemicals or additives that could potentially be harmful if they were to leach into the environment. To ensure that compostable food packaging is safe, it is important to look for products that have been certified by reputable organisations, such as the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) or the Composting Council, and to follow proper disposal instructions to prevent contamination of the environment.

In Australia, there are several certifications for food safe compostable packaging that you can look for when choosing compostable packaging products. These certifications help to ensure that the packaging meets certain standards for safety and compostability.

Here are some of the certifications you can look for:

1. AS 4736: This is an Australian standard for biodegradable plastics that specifies the requirements for biodegradability and compostability. Products that comply with this standard have been independently tested and verified to break down safely in composting conditions.
2. AS 5810: This is an Australian standard for compostable packaging that specifies the requirements for biodegradability, disintegration, and ecotoxicity. Products that comply with this standard have been independently tested and verified to break down safely in composting conditions and not harm the environment.
3. Home Compostable: This is a certification from the Australasian Bioplastics Association (ABA) that indicates that a product is safe to compost in a home composting system. Products with this certification are designed to break down completely in a home composting environment without releasing harmful toxins.
4. Seedling logo: This is a certification from the European Bioplastics Association (EUBP) that indicates that a product meets certain standards for compostability and biodegradability. Products with this certification have been independently tested and verified to break down safely in composting conditions.
5. Compostable in accordance with EN 13432: This is a certification from the European standard for compostability. Products with this certification have been independently tested and verified to break down safely in composting conditions and meet certain criteria for biodegradability, disintegration, and ecotoxicity.

When choosing compostable packaging products in Australia, it’s important to look for these certifications to ensure that the products are safe and meet certain standards for compostability and biodegradability.

Plastic waste at event courtesy https://www.theguardian.com/

It’s time to devoid from single use plastic at your event with the Queensland Government, “re-introducing legislation to ban single-use plastic items in Queensland, starting with straws, stirrers, cutlery and plates that will take effect in September 2021.”

In December 2019, Climate Wave Enterprises (CWE) shared our earliest and growing positive waste/resource diversion outcomes with The Village Markets, and our eagerness to continue working together for better social and environmental outcomes.

“During the year 119 x 240 litre household bins were filled with rubbish, 88 bins were diverted from landfill.”

2019/20 Landfill Diversion for The Village Markets

In December 2020, CWE had established a familiar and productive system within The Village Markets.

In December 2019, CWE found that the total amount of landfill that was created between events decreased exponentially, although it was always less than the total amount of recovered waste.

In December 2020, despite its ups and downs, and the distended prevalence of single use plastics, particularly between March and July, compostable, recyclable and organic material and detritus still persevered, with compostable waste consistently the most prominent, having a 57% difference between recycling, which is much better environmentally.

CWE was able to achieve an average of 36% landfill during this challenging period, because of conscientious Eco Angels and consumer waste education; and following July, CWE accomplished a 42% improvement in average landfill diversion, coming in at 79%, and at best, 87%. Because of the keenness of the event management and staff, and retailers, CWE was able to achieve a remarkable 13% improvement from 2019 as well.

Climate Wave Enterprises at Tani Tei En Open Garden fundraiser for Southern Beaches Community Garden with details of the composting system

In 2019, CWE was excited to see how our relationships in the community would grow, such as with Smoothjuice, as the continued to helpfully contribute to CWE’s endeavours.

In 2020, CWE established positive relationships with retailers and found sustainable, local businesses, such as Minimalist the Label, to help at waste education and community events. Smoothjuice, among others, continued to support CWE to perpetuate the value of materials in the economy for as long as possible, by providing canned water, which was able to be exchanged via container deposit schemes to support Surfrider Foundation Gold Coast. They also provided rich organic material, that CWE transported and layered into the Southern Beaches Community Garden after every event.

This not only reduced our impact and supported the health and vitality of local ecosystems and ecological communities, but also provided much needed immense social and health benefits, as outlined in the 2020 National Pandemic Gardening Survey. It showed community gardening contributed to an overwhelming improvement in mental wellbeing, brought people together to foster social connectedness and contributed to food security and dietary diversity for low-income-impacted households, which was an unanticipated result of Climate Wave Enterprises’ ardent social responsibility.

In 2021, again, we would like to repeat that it has been an extremely enjoyable and rewarding experience working with the event management and staff at The Village Markets and seeing the growing positive impact that CWE’s presence has made, and the dramatic improvements in sustainable choices, because of the support of all stakeholders; and are excited, again, to see how these relationships and outcomes will continue, starting on Sunday 3 January.

The Village Market 2019/20 waste diversion chart

Between December 2019 and December 2020:

1,535L of organic waste was diverted from landfill to be used at the Southern Beaches Community Garden;

12,712L of compostable material was diverted from landfill to be composted;

1,420L of cans and bottles were diverted from landfill to be used for a container deposit scheme;

5,432L of recyclable material was diverted from landfill to be recycled; and

7,412L of waste went to landfill.

This means that 28,511L of waste was produced, where:

21,099L of waste was prevented from going to landfill; and

Only 7,412L of waste went to landfill.

In other words, 119 x 240L household bins were filled with rubbish, 88 bins were diverted from landfill.

The Village Market diversion data 2019/20

Please contact Climate Wave Enterprises on how to get great waste diversion results for your event.

Written by Murray Morris
CWE 2ic & Market Coordinator
Climate Wave Enterprises…working with the planet

Music:
‘Chillax- Ocean Song’
(c) c.j.freeman & phuinkeemunkeemusic
phunkeemunkee@hotmail.com
Listen to more: SoundCloud, Audius, YouTube

Partnering with Griffith University Community Internship Program

CWE acknowledge the Yugambeh language people as traditional owners and custodians of the land on which we work and live.

Photo Credit: kugelfish

You’ve probably heard the term ‘oh what the hell its Christmas’ which somehow lets you off in some way or another. I thought I’d throw some ideas together for those of you who don’t care for that ‘what the hell’ attitude.

But first a few facts:

“Australians produce over 40 million tonnes of waste per year, much of which ends up as discarded rubbish and in landfill. Over this Christmas we will also purchase additional items such as Christmas trees, food, packaging and unwanted gifts.” Clean Up Australia

In the UK according to Waste Watch an estimated 3 million tonnes of waste are generated at Christmas.

If you’ve thought about this and would like to lessen your carbon footprint by reducing waste and having a positive social impact get on your computer and do a search just like I’ve done or check out below a few ideas I came up with.

Buy some lessons or an experience which will not only create enjoyment for the receiver it will generate work for the provider. Surfing, Cooking, Beer brewing (please brew responsibly), Driving (it is recommended that these last 2 not be given to the same person)

These suggestions are my favourites because they’re not only cheap/free depends how you look at it but why not swap babysitting, lawn mowing, house cleaning, shopping! This might sound mundane but when you’re the person receiving it, it feels wonderful and not only that you can build a better community atmosphere and relationships.

Now if your lifestyle does not allow the extravagance of time here are some great ideas for gifts that have a double worth.

Have you ever given someone a chook for Chrissy or for that matter a pig maybe even a pile of poo, yes poo! If you like the sound of this, go to the multitude of charities that are doing something for someone else. Memberships are another option these can keep on giving throughout the year and organisations like Surfrider Foundation, Greenpeace and the rest always need funding.

So while you’re enjoying your festive season don’t forget your footprint or those who aren’t enjoying themselves.

Oh and do me a favour, when attending any event over the period keep an eye out for innovative green management and let me know…the more the merrier!

Please stay safe and enjoy the festive season.

More from the blog

Greg Howell

Climate Wave Enterprises – working with the planet

They are simple things to do, you just need to get into the habit. Start small and one by one before you know it you’ll notice a difference in your bills.

They do save energy which evolves into easing stress on the bank balance and with increasing
utility charges that will be important.

You might have heard all these tips before but are you actually using them?

Turn off lights and utilize natural light when you can.

Buy Energy Star-rated lightbulbs and fixtures.

Turn off your computer.

Print on both sides or use the back side of old documents for faxes, scrap paper, or drafts.
Avoid color printing and print in draft mode whenever feasible.

Think before you print: could this be read or stored online instead.

Purchase office supplies and furniture made from recycled materials.

Recycle everything your company collects.

Every tonne of paper recycled saves 13 trees, 2.5 barrels of oil,
4100Kwh of electricity, 4m³ of landfill and 31,370 litres of water.

Bring your own mug and dishware for those meals you eat at the office.

Take public transport when feasible instead of a rental car when traveling on business.
If you have to rent a car, some rental agencies now offer hybrids and other high-mileage vehicles.

Carpool or pushbike to work, and/or telecommute when possible.

Use nontoxic cleaning products. Brighten up your cubicle with plants, which absorb indoor pollution.

Buy furniture, carpeting, and paint that are free of volatile organic compounds
(VOCs) and won’t off-gas toxic chemicals.

Yours for the planet

Greg Howell

Take the example of this car mechanic in Sao Paulo, Brazil who out of necessity invented a way to illuminate his work shop and houses in his neighborhood. This video shows that there are lots of green efficient solutions that can be created at minimal cost. Check it out! The video is in Portuguese but you can get the drift very easily.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=8SsGjjMEEDw%26

Guil Araujo