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.
​
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.
​
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!