Large Functions in Australia Contribute to 1.3 billion Tonnes of Food Wasted Each Year!

An Australian wedding calls for large-scale preparation of food with lavish menus being the order of the day, which can also result in large amounts of food wastage. When planning large scale events, whether it be for a wedding, private function or corporate event, choose a restaurant, function centre or venue that considers food waste, and reduces it where possible.

By working closely with caterers and event staff, your celebration can also be a an environmental success by reducing the waste simply by asking them to provide the leftovers to OzHarvest, Second Bite,FareShare, Food Bank or other organisations that support the homeless by distributing surplus food.

Planning food volumes with your caterer makes them aware of your concerns and together you will be able to minimise the amount of food wasted. It's important that you factor in the number of guests attending and communicate these details properly to your caterer. That way, they can get the number and quantity of food as close as possible.

A good caterer will know how to minimise portions not options. Most people can't eat more than 500g of food for dinner. A buffet with too much variety means that people can't sample everything whereas an a la carte menu can mean less wastage as the portions can be controlled and the options are limited.
When planning your menu consider sourcing lower environmental impact food choices, for example, you can use the Australian Marine Conservation Society’s Sustainable Seafood Guide.

Some other ideas are to plan your menu around what's in season at the time of your event and use local produce as much as possible which will help reduce the packaging and transporting the food vast distances.

Think Eat Save is an anti-food waste and food loss campaign that encourages you to reduce your foodprint. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), every year 1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted. At the same time, one in every seven people in the world go to bed hungry and more than 20,000 children under the age of five die every day of hunger. Think Eat Save encourages people to become more aware of the environmental impact of the food choices they make and take informed decisions. Think Eat Save provides great advice on their website on how to reduce your food waste.

Another great resource is Love Food Hate Waste.

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Green catering

We are all aware of how much waste a large event like a wedding can create.  Now there is no need to feel guilty when you entertain.  Whether it be for an elegant natural wedding or a rustic family BBQ at Biome Eco Friendly Stores you can find many choices that will suit your style and budget.

The Wasara range (pictured above) is perfect for a natural wedding with 100% biodegradable and compostable single use tableware that is produced sustainably from bamboo, reed and bagasse pulp. The delicate appearance resembles a fine porcelain. It makes an ideal green catering disposable option for posh parties, picnics natural weddings and green events.

At Biome Eco Stores you will find small, medium and large plates, bowls and cutlery.

Prices range from $11.95-19.95 for packs of 10 pieces.

View the Wasara green catering range at www.biome.com.au

Green Bean eco friendly dinnerware is a collection of stylish single-use products for serving food that is made of  Balsa wood. It has a smart contemporary look and feel, and comprises of plates, cutlery, skewers, party picks, chopsticks and cones. The Green Bean green catering range is disposable, biodegradable and compostable. green catering prices are available when you order over 100 of each item although 1 month lead time may be necessary.

At Biome Eco Stores you will find small, medium and large plates,  small, medium and large bowls, cones, serving cups and cutlery. Prices range from $7.50-19.95 for packs of 10 pieces.

View the Green Bean green catering range at www.biome.com.au

These budget friendly Palm leaf plates are made from the naturally shed palm leaf sheath. These biodegradable plates are sturdy, leak proof and can withstand hot and cold temperatures, including baking food and microwave. The rustic nature of these plates and bowls make the perfect addition to any green catering event, family picnic or BBQ or any occasion when you are catering outdoors. They can be washed and used again for a limited time depending on how they are used and they make the perfect alternative to plastic and paper plates anywhere, anytime. When you're done you can just pop them into the compost heap instead of sending them to landfill.

Biome Eco Stores stock dinner plates, small side plates and small round bowls (as pictured above). Prices range from $12.95-15.95 for packs of 25 pieces. 

View the green catering Palm leaf plates at www.biome.com.au

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Volunteer vacation honeymoon - for the intrepid couple

Once the wedding is over, of course you want to relax, but if you're the intrepid sort you'll find that a volunteer vacation for your honeymoon will be valued as a precious memory to start your marriage together and there's no better cultural immersion than to earn respect working side by side with locals who need your help.

The options are endless, pick a trip that you're passionate about and leave the land, animals or people better off than before you arrived. The bonus is you may find you take away more from your volunteer vacation honeymoon that you bargained for.

Thailand volunteer vacation & hilltribe treck - from $1742 AUD 15 Days

Asia -Thailand

Experience the diversity of Thailand on an adventure that includes hill-tribe trekking in the North, beach time in the South and life-changing volunteer projects on a pristine Andaman island. You’ll make a difference in the lives of disadvantaged children as you pitch in at the local school, and after a rewarding day, you can really immerse yourself in the island lifestyle as nights are spent in a beach side homestay. Then trade the beach for the hills and a chance to trek to resilient hilltribe villages.

Highlights: Giving back through a volunteer vacation with a school and community projects, experiencing local life in a homestay, blissing out in Khao Sok National Park, visiting a community tourism project on Koh Pra Thong, trekking small hilltribe villages and fields.

Explore & Cambodia Laos - from $1050 AUD 13 Days

Asia - Thailand, Cambodia, Laos

Spend time on your volunteer vacation honeymoon with one of our projects in Laos and Cambodia and you'll take away so much more than souvenirs or photographs—you'll engage the local community with building and education initiatives. And you’ll still have the opportunity to explore incredible ruins at Angkor Wat and experience French influences in riverside cafés. Whether you're marveling at stunning scenery, Buddhist monasteries or the face of a smiling child, this journey will allow you to dig deep into the people and culture of South East Asia.

Highlights: Volunteer vacations with New Hope Cambodia in Siem Reap, meeting workers of a local NGO in Luang Prabang, marvelling at the magnificent temples of Angkor Wat, enjoying a local homestay, relaxing in the riverside town of Vang Vieng.

Zambia volunteer vacation & safari - from $1599 AUD14 days

Africa - Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa

For travelers eager to give a little something back to the world that’s given them so much, Zambia needs you! This adventurous trip across three countries combines an authentic safari odyssey through national parks in search of the Big Five with time spent working on volunteer projects that benefit the people and animals of the region. Walk with rhinos and gain personal insight into the culture of the Shangaan people one day, participate in the Livingstone community volunteer program the next. Karma—it’s the ultimate travel rewards program.

Highlights: Your volunteer vacation at a Livingstone community project, Spotting the Big Five in Kruger National Park, gazing out across Victoria Falls, walking in search of rhinos and searching for wildlife from a 4x4 in Matobo National Park, witnessing Shangaan traditions, discovering the less-visited Zimbabwe.

Volunteer vacation in Peru Amazon - from $1399 AUD9 days

South America - Amazon, Peru

Experience the Peruvian Amazon on this exciting and hands-on jungle adventure. Travel by motorised canoe up the Tambopata River to the G Lodge Amazon. Spend five days of your volunteer vacation at a centre for the rehabilitation and conservation of wild animals. Work alongside staff to feed and take care of animals so they can be successfully released back to their natural habitats. Next, spend two days in the rainforest learning about traditional medicinal plants, spotting birds, cayman and monkeys.

Highlights: Your volunteer vacation in the Amazon with the rehabilitation and conservation of animals, exploring the jungle and searching for wildlife.

Voluteer honeymoon China – Pandas - from $1827 AUD14 days

Asia - China

This unique itinerary introduces the highlights of the Middle Kingdom — from the historic gems of modern Beijing to the ancient walls of Xi'an and cosmopolitan glitter of contemporary Shanghai while allowing you to give back to the community at the same time. From the palaces and temples of Beijing venture to the countryside to experience the grandeur of the Great Wall and work with intellectually challenged youth at a unique organic farm centre designed to offer employment opportunities and training to intellectually challenged people. In Xi'an witness the world-famous Terracotta Warriors, in Chengdu indulge in the culinary spice that is Sichuan cuisine and volunteer at the largest panda reserve in the world to help ensure these distinctly Chinese icons are around for future generations to admire.

Highlights: A volunteer vacatiuon at a rural organic farm and working with the local community, coming face-to-face with pandas at the Bifengxia Panda Center, exploring the bustling markets and streets of China's biggest cities, hiking along the Great Wall, standing in the middle of Tiananmen Square and meeting the Terracotta Warriors.

For even more adventurous volunteer vacation honeymoon ideas visit the Great Adventure website.

Don't forget to create your eco friendly gift registry at Biome Eco Stores so you are sure to receive eco friendly gifts that you actually want and that are useful to you.

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Eco Friendly wedding dress

Eco-conscious brides-to-be will know that when planning a natural wedding, there are several issues to address, but the wedding dress will most likely be one of the biggest considerations on their list.

Here are some fun and somewhat green wedding dress ideas from natural brides who have taken the plunge down the aisle.

This 'natural bride' is a fashion designer. She and her 'natural groom' had joked over the years that they’d get married once they collected enough bread tags to cover a dress, a feat which prompted family and friends to join in the collection to speed things along. The multicolored green wedding dress was made of 10,000 bread tags collected over ten years. 

Treating the tags like scales, she created an overlapping pattern, which also disguised the stitching. The 10,000 plastic tags were sewn with her sewing machine onto a cotton base fabric with a corset underneath. All in all, the fifteen pound green wedding dress only cost $36 but took her hundreds of hours to make. Each tag bears a “best by” date, bringing back memories of their time together over the years. Now that's commitment!

Talk about popping the question!

This Canadian bride wore an eco friendly wedding dress made out of 13 feet of bubble wrap as she walked down the aisle. The green wedding dress used over 13 meters of re-used packing material that was put together by pupils and parents from her school for a fashion show featuring recyclable materials. This green wedding dress is made from sheets of carefully stitched bubble wrap, attached to an inner cloth lining, and finished off with white foam packaging material.

The bride remarked "There was quite a lot of popping as I walked down the aisle, I was very nervous, but having the bubbles to pop, really helped calm my nerves".

 Wool you marry me?  

Little Bo-peep would be jealous of this dress.

When this breeder of rare sheep, decided to get married in a green wedding dress made of the wool from her beloved Lincoln Longwool sheep, she wanted "to prove that wool is not just something for knitting baby booties, and that native breeds can have just as big a presence today as in the past."

This green wedding dress took a spinner and dressmaker 67 hours to make. "But it was worth it", said the groom who wore a wool waistcoat. In keeping with the theme, she had a shepherds crook, and the ring cushion was made of fleece. They are obviously a tight-knit couple.

Follow the paper trail

This amazing green wedding dress was made with only toilet paper, tape and glue inspired by "Gone With the Wind" and Japanese Origami.

It's clear to see that you can be as creative as you like when creating your green wedding dress but the most popular choice when planning a natural wedding would be to find a pre-loved dress.

Don't forget to create your eco friendly gift registry at Biome Eco Stores so you are sure to receive eco friendly gifts that you actually want and that are useful to you.

For more info on how to create an eco friendly wedding dress visit www.naturalweddings.com.au

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Green event

Planning a natural wedding or green event is not only about responsibility to the environment, it’s also about love. Your love for each other, your love for family and friends and your love for the Earth. Your wedding is a great opportunity to affect your extended family and friends by making earth conscious decisions that enhance the natural beauty of the setting. 

Just as we have an impact on the environment in which we live, the environment also has an impact on us. In nature we experience the beauty and organic wildness of the earth, which has a measurably positive effect on our psychological and physical well-being when we cater a green event. 

photo credit: Jose Villa

 Save time, resources and money by finding a vendor you can hire your natural touches from, for your green event.

you can hire these and many more pre-loved items from lovestruckweddings.com.au for your green event.

Make your own decorations from materials that you already have around the house. Ask friends and family to donate fabrics that fit your theme. They'll love to see their old dress hanging as bunting on the day of your green event.

 Or you can find lots of hand made decorations on etsy.com like these beer can stars for your green event.

Ask your friends and family for Earth friendly gifts that are useful to you by registering for your 

eco friendly gifts at biome.com.au 

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eco travel: Spinguera Eco Lodge, Africa

From the website of Spinguera Eco Lodge

Spinguera Eco Lodge is located on the island of Boavista in the archipelago of Cape Verde, located off the west coast of Africa (near the nation of Mauritania).  International Airport Rabil can be reached by direct flights from major European capitals.

Spinguera ecolodge is a project born from the love for this land and its people. The charm of Spinguera is intact, ready to be discovered and enjoyed by those who seek authentic and unspoiled places. Spinguera is perfectly integrated into the landscape.  There is no artificial light for dozens of miles, no buildings interrupt the view and all visitors remain breathless once they reach this land. In respect of the ecosystem and biodiversity Spinguera has always worked with the nearby community of Bofareira to achieve a perfect destination for the responsible traveller.

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Green wedding tips from Green magazine

Australian native flowers bouquet from http://blushingblooms.com.au/blog/2011/02/wedding-flowers-native-appeal/

 Thank you to Green Magazine for naming www.naturalweddings.com.au among the websites they love in the July issue feature article "Nice Day for a Green Wedding".   Below are excerpts from the article with excellent tips for planning your own walk down the green-tinged aisle.

Green Magazine found that when Prince William married Kate Middleton, the nuptials generated a whopping 6,765 tonnes of carbon dioxide. That’s 12 times the annual emissions of Buckingham Palace and more than 300 times the carbon footprint of the average wedding. Follow these tips to ensure the biggest day of your life has minimal impact on the planet...

Venue

The venue will account for 50 – 60 per cent of the total cost of your wedding, and has the potential to generate significant carbon emissions. If you’re planning a civil marriage, consider having the ceremony, photo shoot and reception at one location to save your guests’ transport miles, and their sanity.
If you’re getting married in a church, choose reception and photography venues located nearby. Even better, look for locations that are central to as many guests as possible.
For the reception, choose caterers that use locally grown, in-season, organic food and locally produced beverages where possible, and buy sustainable seafood. Or, go cruelty-free with a vego menu. “Vegetarian and vegan food take fewer resources to produce so, if you weight your menu to more vegetarian and vegan options your wedding footprint will be lower,” says Gillian Milne, director of Grassroots Productions.

Transport

How many overseas or interstate travellers are on your guest list? Transport miles are one of the biggest contributors to wedding emissions. For example, a return trip for two from London to Sydney generates about 11.4 tonnes of carbon dioxide. Then there’s the guests’ accommodation to consider.
If you can’t bear your grandparents or old workmates missing your special day, ask them to offset their transport emissions in lieu of a wedding gift. And for those who only need to travel across land, suggest they come by train or bus instead of plane.
Transport on the day of the wedding is also a significant emitter, but a little planning will help to reduce the environmental load. “Choose a venue with accommodation for guests onsite or nearby,” says Milne. “If there is a lack of accommodation near your venue, you can reduce individual car journeys by providing a bus service or organising carpools. If possible, track the mileage in an online survey when guests RSVP so you can offset their travel.”

Gown

Although you only wear your wedding gown once, it will live for generations in your photos. But your dress needn’t leave a lifelong eco-footprint. Your best bet is to buy a pre-worn gown from one of the many second-hand boutiques. Most are fitted out like top couture salons, so you’ll feel just as pampered in the change rooms. Alternatively, check out online shopping sites, but search locally to avoid shipping that $120 bargain from overseas. Or your mum might like to lend you her dress in the spirit of ‘something old’ and ‘something borrowed’.
If you’re set on a new gown, look for a dressmaker who will use eco-friendly fabrics, even if you need to take charge of the sourcing. Milne recommends natural biodegradable fabrics such as silk, or blends made from renewable sources such as bamboo.
After the wedding, it’s important to clean and preserve your gown. When dry cleaning your dress after the wedding, avoid the harsh chemicals normally used, such as perchloroethylene. Try www.wornonlyonce.com.au, www.savvybrides.com.au, www.idogowns.com.au and www.lovemetwice.com.au to find or sell your dream dress.
G Tip: Ask your bridesmaids to choose their own dresses in similar colours that suit their individual body shape so they'll be more likely to wear their dresses again.

Flowers

Out-of-season flowers grown in hothouses create a significant eco-footprint. And they are often transported from interstate or overseas, generating a truckload of ‘flower miles’. Milne says the most sustainable option is to choose flowers and foliage that are in season and grown locally with minimal pesticides. Use native flowers as centrepieces to reduce carbon emissions from imported flowers. Another alternative is to use potted plants around the reception and ceremony venues, which can later be planted by yourself or guests.

Stationery

From invitations and place cards to ceremony booklets and thankyou cards, wedding stationery tells the story of your nuptials.  Two of the most common certification logos to look out for with papers are FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) and PEFC (Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification).  If you are willing to avoid using paper stationery altogether, consider designing your own wedding website. Even people without graphic design skills can master the basics of creating a site on WordPress or Blogger. Set up a personalised wedding email address to direct guests to your website and collect RSVPs. For a total of about $25, it’s a lot cheaper than customised stationery.

Gifts

A great ethical option is to nominate a charity or two that you would like to have your guests donate to in leiu of a gift. Websites such as Karma Currency (www.karmacurrency.com.au) make the whole thing easy for you.

Rings

Establishing that a gem is conflict-free can be difficult, and mining has a huge carbon footprint. Look for something old to lessen the load. A family diamond or vintage ring is a meaningful alternative. And don’t worry, it will sparkle just as brightly as a new stone.
If buying new, chose stores that are socially or environmentally aware, such as Utopian Creations (www.utopiancreations.com.au).

Bomboniere

Traditionally, sugared almonds were given to guests as a symbol of health, wealth, fertility, happiness and longevity.  “Gifts that will actually be used, or can be easily recycled or composted, make the best bomboniere,” says Milne. “Gifts that guests can eat, such as preserves, or plant in their garden are fabulous.” Try a small potted easy-to-grow herb for each guest, or homemade jams, chocolates or cookies.  Biome Eco Stores suggests a reusable item such a reusable coffee cup Keep Cup so that your guests are reminded of your union every time they reuse!

Photography

Resist the glitz and glam of proof books and choose a photographer who will provide you with digital copies of all your images, from which you can select your favourites. Avoid paper and chemicals and share all your photos easily and efficiently via email, or photo-sharing sites such as Flickr or even Facebook. Print only those images you plan to frame, send to relatives or include in an album.

Honeymoon

With so many relaxing destinations and picturesque beaches in Australia, how far do you really need to travel? “Honeymoon locally, offset your flights if necessary and choose accredited eco-tourism options,” suggests Milne. Try one of the many great eco resorts around Australia. Furthermore, consider how you’re getting to your destination. If there’s an option to travel by land rather than flying, it will significantly lower your impact.

Cake

In the age of four-tiered masterpieces, Marie Antoniette has a lot to answer for. How much cake will your guests actually eat? Aim for one small piece per guest plus a small portion for you to save for your first anniversary or the birth of your first child. And if tradition isn’t your thing, don’t worry about saving a portion for yourself. Alternatively, do cupcakes that then double up as your bomboniere.

Top tip

It is very important to consider the life cycle of the products you choose,” says Gillian Milne, director of Grassroots Productions. “What are they made of and how were they made? Are they useful? Can they be reused or recycled; will they biodegrade or go straight in the bin? Apply this thinking as you plan and you will reduce the eco-footprint of your wedding naturally.

Resources
www.grassrootsproductions.com.au
Professional events management with personal bespoke wedding planning services.
www.theorganiccupcake.com
Organic cupcakes with options to satisfy everyone’s sweet-tooth.
www.australseedlings.com.au
Organic seedlings that’ll grow into useful gifts for your guests.
Natural Weddings Australian green wedding directory
Ideas and advice, including a green gift registry & mineral makeup tips.
www.organicpassioncatering.com
Organic vegan and vegie cuisine, using the best natural ingredients.

In the article "Nice Day for a Green Wedding" you will also find a case study of a real life couple!

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