Throwing a sustainable, zero-waste, and ethical wedding does not have to feel impossible. I created this guide as a way to help put all the options in one place.  In June of 2019, my husband and I pulled off our very own sustainable wedding and I am so excited to share the eco-friendly an zero-waste options you have at your disposal, hah, you see what I did there? 

If you are here as a new bride, congrats! If your here because you want to get your research done before the ring is on your finger, awesome! Take a moment and give yourself a pat on the back for caring enough about the earth to learn how to go about a green wedding.
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I want to preface this guide by saying I worked as a wedding photographer for a decade in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Illinois. I’ve photographed over 100 couples and thus have seen a lot of different types of weddings, and in turn, have seen first-hand the amount of waste that is produced from the average wedding day. Even then, when I wasn’t the conscious consumer I am today, it raised a red flag in my mind.

A 130 person wedding on average produces 62 tons of carbon dioxide and 400-600 lbs of waste. These numbers include everything from the wedding invitations to the flowers to the wedding dress.

An opposition arises when you try to have an earth-friendly wedding within the confines of modern wedding culture. We are constantly bombarded by pictures and ideas on Pinterest of perfect personalized weddings with all the trimmings. Then you have the concept of zero waste, which can feel so minimal and bare, making a bride feel like there’s very little wiggle room to make it feel special for herself and her guests.
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The good news is that there are so many options for making your day feel special while still achieving an earth-conscious wedding. Once you understand the basics of having a green wedding then you can choose your own adventure from there. 

In this guide, we will go over the options you have from finding an ethical engagement ring to where you can buy an eco-friendly wedding dress. While we talk over these options, I’ll provide you with what I chose for my low to no-waste wedding so that you have some experience to fall back on and you know you are not alone as you plan your own big day.

• The top ethical and conflict-free ring companies
• The best fair trade and sustainably made wedding dress companies
• How to go about sending invites to cut down on your carbon footprint and reduce waste
• How to set up a conscious consumer wedding registry
• Tips on how to cut down on food waste and the right questions to ask your wedding caterer
• The best places to get eco-friendly glitter and confetti (because duh)
• Other sustainable wedding tips you might not have thought of!

This week on The Positively Green Podcast we have organic skincare formulator Emma, founder of The Sunday Standard. As someone who has dealt with acne-prone skin her whole life, chatting with Emma about her nourishing facial oils was so enlightening. I've been implementing the Oil Cleansing Method (OCM) for nearly six years and Emma took my understanding of why it works to a whole new level. If you've been curious how OCM works or you have been trying it for a while and want to take it a step further, this episode is for you!

​The Sunday Standard is a beauty brand based in Milwaukee, WI. Emma's products are made with non-toxic, plant-derived ingredients and are formulated to heal blemish-prone skin from the inside out.

• How Emma became interested in clean and natural beauty
• Why facial oils are so beneficial for our skin (especially acne-prone skin!)
• What the “oil cleansing method” is and how to properly do it
• The most effective way to layer your skincare products and how to avoid wasting your money!
• Why Emma started her own skincare line and more about the products
• Challenges with natural formulas + more about Emma’s Formula Botanica diploma in Organic Skincare Formulation
• How Emma practices sustainability with her business and the importance of sourcing high-quality ingredients
• What’s next for The Sunday Standard
• 5 Simple Dietary Changes for Better Skin
• What the F is GLA? A guide to the importance of fatty acids in skincare.

• The Sunday Standard's Website and Blog
• Follow Emma on Instagram @ThisIsTheSundayStandard
• The Sunday Standard Facebook Page

Four years ago when I started practicing conscious consumerism, I had the darndest time finding sustainable shoe companies I could trust. So many footwear brands didn’t openly talk about where their materials were from, how their shoes were made, and how they treated their workers. The opaque quality of the fashion industry is starting to be chipped away thanks to nonprofits such as Fashion Revolution and trending hashtags like #WhoMadeMyClothes.

Transparency is what I look for first and foremost when assessing if companies are eligible for these sustainable posts. If companies aren’t openly sharing how they treat their workers and what they are doing regarding buffering their effect on the environment, it’s a hard pass. 

Next, materials used to make the shoes is assessed. If there is no open statement on their website about where they source their materials then it's a pass. I look for eco-friendly, regenerative or sustainable, and organic materials being used.

Lastly, how comfortable and versatile the shoes are comes into play. I won't lie, I think Toms are hella uncomfortable! Maybe my feet are extra sensitive. Rest assured, I won't be sharing any companies that may work hard to be transparent and eco-friendly, but fail to consider the customer's comfort level.

So let’s dive into the top three sustainable shoe companies I’ve found and why they rock!

On today’s episode of the Positively Green Podcast we have special guest, Kate Eskuri. We chat about a ton of topics including integrative medicine and Kate’s best tips for holistic sleep. We love Kate because she balances the "woo" with the solid science, creating a safe and accessible balance between eastern and western medicine.

​Kate is a Minnesota girl, registered nurse, holistic health junkie, and the voice behind The Foundation Blog, a modern woman's guide to all things slow living, integrative health, and holistic self-care. Kate got her nursing degree at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities where competed in Division I track, graduated with honors and completed years of health research introducing yoga to older female adults. Upon graduating and working as an RN at the Mayo Clinic ICU, Kate felt a longing to specialize in holistic health.

Kate is currently getting her doctorate degree in Integrative Health and Healing and is passionate about helping women maximize their health by simple + foundational health practices: quality nutrition, natural remedies, mindset-shifts, and holistic practices. Kate's healthcare experience is a unique blend of Western and Eastern. Having worked in an ICU setting and also studying integrative health, she believes in the miracle of modern medicine, but also encourages patients to get back to their "roots" of quality nutrition, slow living, and being intentional with their health. 

• Kate’s journey into nursing
• Why she started the Foundation Blog
• How we need to rethink healthcare and stop polarizing both western and eastern medicine
• How being a 7 wing 8 on the Enneagram means joy is her compass
• What it means to be an integrative/holistic nurse
• Kate’s experience with competitive running and how she finds balance with exercise
• Her go-to sleepy time drinks to promote regenerative rest (With Four Sigmatic, be sure to use her discount code KE10 to save some moolah!)
• Why curated a mindful wardrobe should include pajamas
• Why she made to switch from conventional cleansers to facial oils (her fave is Primally Pure)
• How acupressure has been proven to help with PMS symptoms ​

@KateEskuri on Instagram
The Foundation Blog

Turns out I'm not the only one that feels like a fish out of water when the humidity and heat strike hard mid-July here in Wisconsin. My chickens were right there with me! Chickens and high heat plus humidity can be a deadly combination, especially this Wisconsin summer with the heat index climbing into the low 100s. So I wanted to share a few of the tips and tricks I've learned to keep my flock comfortable when I feel personally feel like melting. 

If you've fallen into a slump with your green and clean beauty routine and want to take it to the next level - one of mindful and conscious self-care, this episode is for you. Becca walks Kelsey through her very own Custom Green Beauty Consult, which is full of tips on how to take your own toxin-free beauty habits from humdrum to heck yes!

Becca recently launched her Organically You: Custom Green Beauty Consult service. So today, you get a front-row seat to the amazing work she does as she walks Kelsey through a consult of her own. With all of Becca’s hard-won knowledge on organic skincare, she helps Kelsey find a perfect, simple, and natural routine with some new clean beauty and skincare products.

• Cleanser: Osea Ocean Cleansing Mudd
• Facial Oil: The Sunday Standard Blue Tansy & GLA Ultra-Clarifying Facial Oil (code ORGANICALLYBECCA for discount)
• Toner: Osea Sea Minerals Mist
• Enzyme Mask: Ursa Major Bright & Easy 3-Minute Flash Mask
• Eye Serum: Ladyloved Jupiter Enlivening Under-Eye Serum
• Spot Treatment: Osea Corrective Complex Roller
• Lipstick: Faraday Face Cream Lip Color
• Mascara: W3ll People Expressionist Mascara, Lily Lolo Natural Vegan Mascara

There is nothing more wonderful for a gardener than sharing the love of gardening with another. In this case, we are talking about sharing that love with your chickens! Not only will chickens love to be included in your garden, but they also can take some of the gardening work off your shoulders. In this post, we will go over how you can work with your chicken’s instincts to prep and clean up your garden during the growing season, fertilize your soil, and till your cover crops under when the timing is right.

In this episode, we have special guest Daniel DeBaun, an internationally recognized expert in EMF radiation, EMF shielding, and EMF-related health issues with special focus on the effect of exposure from mobile devices such as laptops, tablets, and cell phones. He is the author of Radiation Nation: Complete Guide to EMF Protection & Safety and co-founder of DefenderShield.

• What are EMFs (electromagnetic radiation and frequencies) and how they work
• Common sources of EMFs and where they can be found in our homes
• Minor and major health effects on the human body, and why children and pregnant women are especially vulnerable (and pets!)
• Is there a “healthy” daily limit for EMF exposure?
• Should you be concerned about smart meters or if you live near cell towers and power lines?
• The safest way to talk on a cell phone
• Standards and government regulations in place for protecting us from EMFs
• Concerns with the rise of 5G cell service and wearable devices
• Practical tips for protecting yourself and lessening exposure to EMFs
• Effects of artificial blue light from our devices
• Advice for what to do if you live in a big city and have close proximity to a lot of radiation

DefenderShield makes blue light blocking glasses, laptop pads, phone cases, blankets, and more so you can protect yourself. They are independently third-party tested. Use the code GREEN20 for 20% off your purchase! They also have a monthly newsletter to stay up-to-date on the latest EMF news and research.

This episode is sponsored by Osea Malibu, the original plant-based, results-driven skincare line. You can use the code POSITIVELYGREEN10 for $10 off your first purchase of $50 or more!

Getting chickens out on your lawn has a ton of benefits, for the grass and for your hens! I ran into a serious conundrum when I wanted to free-range my chickens, they would never fail to stray a bit too far, get on the wrong side of the fence, and into our neighbors' yards. When I would open the coop door every morning, offering them their free-range freedom, I found myself checking on them every 45 minutes. It would disrupt my day, I was constantly stressed out, and the hens would always wind up into some sort of trouble. At that point, the only alternative was to keep them cooped up (hah), forbidding them access to all the wonderful things a free range chicken would have.

Please welcome Karen Malkin as our special guest today! She is a board-certified health and wellness coach and also serves on the board of directors for the Environmental Working Group. We cover so much holistic-living ground in this episode you are going to love it!

• About Karen and her personal health journey, and her foundations of holistic and integrative medicine
• How integrative health differs from traditional western medicine
• The 7 core areas of health that she focuses on, and how to make health and wellness less overwhelming
• Beginner steps we can take to improve our core areas of health
• She guides us through a 4-7-8 breathing exercise (developed by Dr. Andrew Weil), which can help you reset and release stress
• Her connection with EWG (the Environmental Working Group) and some of their helpful tools

• ​​EWG Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen lists
• EWG Tap Water Database
• EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
• EWG Sunscreen Guide
• Karen’s 14-Day Toxin Takedown Transformation program

www.karenmalkin.com
@karenmalkinhealth on Instagram
Shop her Transformation protein bars and MCT Lean powders

Check out or sponsor, Osea Malibu, the original plant-based, results-driven skincare line. You can enter the code POSITIVELYGREEN at checkout on their site and get a FREE travel-size of your choice ($18 value) with the purchase of $40 or more. Just be sure to add the travel-size to your cart first. oseamalibu.com/positivelygreen