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Carbon offsets are the ultimate wedding gift. Really.

Carbon offsets are the ultimate wedding gift. Really.

Just like when you fly, big or small - events can be carbon offset. Here's a guide to how to offset your wedding’s carbon footprint

Carbon offsetting is for everyone - not just for large events like WOMADelaide or the Sydney Mardi Gras.   
Being upfront and proud about carbon offsetting your wedding is a great way to showcase climate leadership to your closest friends and family - everyone who has gathered to witness and celebrate your nuptials. It’s surprisingly simple to do and here’s a bonus – its also surprisingly affordable! (And if you really don't need gifts, it's an excellent way to do some good. And double gift.)

CARBON OFFSETTING IS A SIMPLE. BASICALLY YOU OBTAIN A CREDIT FOR THE REDUCTION OF THE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS PRODUCED BY YOUR WEDDING BY BUYING CARBON CREDITS.

THESE CARBON CREDITS ARE PURCHASED FROM APPROVED BUSINESSES WHO INVEST IN CARBON REDUCTION OR CARBON POSITIVE SCHEMES LIKE REFORESTATION PROJECTS, RENEWABLE ENERGY SCHEMES SUCH AS WIND, SOLAR AND HYDRO-POWER, OR EVEN ON-FARM METHANE CAPTURE AND A MYRIAD OF HEATING AND ENERGY PROJECTS IN THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES.

Carbon offsetting isn't a licence to be naughty 

Some skeptics to carbon offsetting, such as Sharon Beder from the University of Wollongong say the practice is a bit of a ‘get out of jail free card’ reinforcing already environmentally harmful consumer practices, with an easy escape at the end. That’s something to bear in mind if you find yourself at an extremely extravagant and wasteful event flouting its offset carbon footprint. And there are many who say that about flying. (ie: We should fly less and not need to offset so much - especially on Qantas.)

Think about how your whole streamlined wedding is going to sing eco-friendliness through the entire ceremony and reception. The more eco your wedding or event, the more you contribute to positive emissions in your offsets, so be as sincere in your desire to reduce your event's carbon footprint as you are in purchasing carbon offsets.

It's surprisingly easy to work out the carbon footprint of pretty much anything 

If you are looking to achieve the uber-cool status of carbon neutrality or, even better to be carbon positive, you need to calculate your event’s projected emissions. It is important to first aim to reduce unnecessary emissions as much as possible. Then you simply offset what you can't reduce by purchasing carbon credits equivalent to the remaining emissions. 


The three big event carbon offenders

Of all the aspects of your wedding that will add to your carbon footprint, there are three biggies:



  1. The various activities of the number of guests attending, 


  2. the number of air and car travel kilometres of guests and service providers, 


  3. and the number of nights any wedding attendees stay in accommodation.

Once you know how many people are coming, you can enter your info into one of the numerous carbon calculators you can access online, such as Carbon Neutral, who have a Australian carbon calculator for events. 


What else can you offset apart from the big 3?

Everything. You can offset everything.  People, travel and accommodation are the big ones, but you can also calculate and offset everything - the amount of paper you use, the types of meals you serve, the volume of alcohol poured - whatever you want. If you are serving a Climatarian type meal, while that's less carbon than meat, it still has emissions.  


Don’t forget the 'little things' because they may not be so little

Choosing imported cut flowers is going to blow your carbon footprint out simply for the air miles. Holding your reception indoors is going to attach more HVAC energy to your footprint. 
Additionally there will be carbon emissions involved in your big day that you simply weren’t aware of, so you can even throw in an additional amount of suspected CO2 credit to cover all bases, perhaps add a percentage – your choice. For example, the carbon emissions involved in the production of products used at your wedding – not just the getting them to your wedding part – can be factored in as well and covered. 

How the Calculator works


ONCE YOU HAVE PUT EVERYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF INTO THE CALCULATOR, IT WILL GIVE YOU A FIGURE REPRESENTING THE NUMBER OF TONNES OF CARBON EMITTED BY YOUR WEDDING AND WHAT THE COST WILL BE TO OFFSET IT. 

YOU BUY CARBON OFFSETS BY THE TONNE AND THE COST PER TONNE WILL VARY ACCORDING TO THE TYPE OF CARBON LOWERING PROJECT YOU SUPPORT. THERE ARE MANY PROJECTS AROUND SO YOU CAN CHOOSE TO SUPPORT A FUND YOU LIKE - OR A COUPLE, IF YOU CAN'T AGREE ALREADY.   

 

Where to buy your Carbon offsets

Armed with your carbon offset standards guide, you can then decide upon who to buy your carbon credits from - which carbon offsetter. (Who you choose is something you can share with guest and is another aspect of greening your wedding that can add individuality.) Different offsetters focus on different activities. 

  • If you purchase offsets from Greenfleet, they plant native forests to offset carbon emissions. 
  • If you used the Carbon Neutral calculator,  you may have noticed that they also plant trees.  
  • Established by the World Wildlife Fund, the Gold Standard certifies offset projects that demonstrate greenhouse gas reductions and positively impact the economy, health, welfare and/or environment of the community where the project is located. You will need to either know your Carbon tonnage or use their simple calculator. (Don't worry that it is simple. The amount will be close enough to make a huge difference and the projects are amazing.)
  • Organisations like Fifteen Trees have formulas for offsets that save you bothering with the calculator. Fifteen Trees chooses indigenous trees sourced from independent native nurseries. The trees are then planted out by school groups, environmental networks, landowners and Landcare throughout all states of Australia. 

How do you know the carbon offset will actually be effective?

Carbon offset funds are heavily regulated. The Verified Carbon Standard is an international standard that ensures carbon reductions meet quality standards and are independently verified, numbered and listed in a central database. 

We all leave a footprint, but doing something about it makes the difference

Even the most eco-friendliest of weddings will leave a carbon footprint.  So after all the planning to minimize, you can feel happy knowing that even the smallest footprint can be offset. And that you achieved all you could to do that.

If you recycle and reuse, you don't have to offset

Anything you are reducing, reusing and recycling at your event means you are limiting offsets and inviting eco to your wedding. Reducing waste is easy with real glassware that can be washed, invitations can be emailed rather than printed and posted but if tradition is important ensure recycled carbon neutral paper is being used or ask your bff, mother or grandmother if you can wear their wedding dress instead of buying a new one. 

A fast calculation from Fifteen Trees

Fifteen Trees have a formula to make it very simple. They suggest you plant one tree per wedding guest and one tree per hour ‘in the air’ for flights to and from your wedding. Trees are purchased from Australian nurseries, are indigenous and planted by Australian community groups. They cost $4.80 each. 

Remember the honeymoon! 

And one last thing: Don’t forget the honeymoon – apply your eco-lens to the carbon footprint of that event too and offset accordingly. There are many excellent eco destinations and downtown hotels like The Alto in cbd Melbourne who are a certified, sustainable hotel.

Images: Unsplash | Jan Koetsier - Pexel

*Disclaimer: ekko.world is for eco consumers. We promote good things, but do not do paid promotion. All traders and products referred to in this article were chosen for appropriate photos and not because the trader requested inclusion or because we endorse them in any way. 
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