Ask Kate

Question:

We are having a small wedding at our home (30 people) and my parents insist that we serve soda and seltzer with dinner. I feel guilty buying bottles of soda because there is no recycling in our area and renting a soda machine seems ridiculous. Any suggestions?

Answer:

While it can be frustrating to try to meet the demands of your family, in this case we may have just the thing!

Americans have some of the cleanest, safest drinking water on the planet, yet we are the leading consumers of bottled water. In 2005, 37 billion bottles of water were purchased in the US alone. People are slowly breaking this habit as they realize the environmental and monetary savings that result.

Home soda makers are very cool step in this process. They allow you to carbonate tap water in reusable bottles, eliminating the waste created by manufacturing, filling, shipping and disposing of cans and plastic bottles.

We recently tried the Modern Soda Maker in our office, and cannot get enough of it. It is great for making seltzer instantly. You can also add a variety of flavors, soda mixes, or diet soda mixes such as Cola, Cream Soda, Orange or Lemon Lime for homemade soda. 

The Modern Soda Maker does not use a power source, and comes with one CO₂ carbonator. The carbonators are available in two sizes, and make up to 60 or 110 liters of soda or sparkling water each. When the canister is empty you can return it to the manufacturer to be reused, minimizing waste.

We love how easy this soda maker is to use, as well as how drastically is has cut down our need to bring out the recycling! It also makes a great, refreshing gift as we gear up for summer. This item is available  in our shop. Also available: The Deluxe Soda & Seltzer Maker and the DIY Soda Machine.

Question:
Kate,
My mother in law is making all the dresses for the wedding, and I was curious to know if tulle is a sustainable option or if a sustainable alternative to tulle was available. Any suggestions you have would be greatly appreciated, especially in regards to use of tulle in my veil, dress, and other wedding items.
Thank you for your time,
Alexa W.

Answer:
Hi Alexa,
You are so lucky that your mother in law is making dresses for you - I am sure they will be beautiful. The short answer to your questions is that it depends on what the tulle is made from. There are three types of tulle on the market (generally speaking): Nylon, Rayon, Silk. Nylon tulle is the cheapest, but it is NOT green as most of it is made overseas and it is petroleum-based. Rayon is slightly better than nylon, as it is made from a plant cellulose, but it undergoes extensive chemical processing that is bad for the environment. Silk is the best option, but it is not as stiff as nylon so how well it works depends on the drape of the gown. Peace silk would be the best as it is ethically sourced - harvested after the worms live out their natural lives - but I have not seen any peace silk tulle on the market yet. You may want to contact the designer Gwendolyn Gleason, as I know she sources all of her peace silks directly from India.

Given the above, I think the best bet may be to purchase gently used tulle on eBay or on Craigslist and reuse it. Recycling is always green, it will cost less, and it will allow you to buy exactly the tulle you need for the job.
Hope this helps!
Kate

Question:

Hi Kate-

I have been told that Compact Fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) are greener than standard incandescent bulbs, but I am not sure I agree. CFL bulbs contain mercury, a substance that is extremely dangerous for living organisms. When CFL bulbs get thrown away, this mercury ends up in landfills even though it is hazardous waste, and to date I am not sure there is an effective way to capture mercury from the environment.

Is this CFL trend just “green washing” or is there research to back it up? Wouldn't it be greener to continue to use incandescent bulbs that do not contain toxic chemicals?

Answer:

CFLs are considered “green” because they use 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs and have a much longer lifespan.

Image:Benjamin D. Esham for the Wikimedia Commons

However, as they gain popularity their mercury content has become a sticking point for wary consumers. CFL light bulbs contain on average 5 milligrams of mercury, about enough to cover the tip of a ballpoint pen. While this may seem like a small amount it is still hazardous, and so the concern that this mercury may build up in landfills and in the environment is indeed a valid one.

The mercury found in CFLs, and all fluorescent lights, is essential to their high-efficiency design. When used and disposed of properly these bulbs pose minimal threat to humans or the environment, so recycling them correctly is a great way to reap their benefits without the harm.

Large retailers such as Home Depot and Ikea have begun accepting used CFLs free of charge, and hopefully more CFL retailers will begin to do the same. Check out Earth 911 to locate a recycling center in your area.

Another important point is that coal-fired power plants, which supply almost half of the nation's electricity, are the leading source of mercury emissions in the air. According to Popular Mechanics, U.S. coal-fired power plants emitted 50.7 tons of mercury in 2006, the equivalent of the mercury in 9 million CFLs. Lowering our energy consumption through the use of CFL bulbs can ultimately decrease, not increase, the amount of mercury released into our environment.

That said, it is inevitable that some CFLs will end up in our landfills. But hopefully, informed green consumers will take the extra steps to minimize these hazards and spread the word. Besides recycling, you can also increase the life of your CFLs by using them in the warmer and dryer parts of your home or office, such as in the kitchen or living room. CFLs may have a shorter life in high-humidity spaces such as bathrooms or uncovered outdoor fixtures.

LED bulbs, another low-energy lighting option, do not contain mercury but are more expensive and some people do not like the quality of the light they emit. CFLs are a stepping-stone that will eventually be replaced with something better, but for now, even replacing just one bulb in your house with a CFL bulb will lower your energy costs and our overall consumption.

Hope this helps!

Kate

Image: John Michael Cooper

Question:

Hi Kate-

In beginning to look at wedding dresses, I have begun to ask myself what is the triple bottom line approach to purchasing my dress? I, of course, like any other bride, would love to have a dress that fits me well, looks gorgeous on, and is made and purchased responsibly. On one hand, I am willing to pay for the right dress, on the other hand, I question if it is responsible to purchase a wedding dress that costs over $1,000 (or even $500). It is a dress that will most likely be worn for one day. I am starting to feel that if I buy in to that sort of pricing then I am supporting an over inflated wedding industry and supporting capitalism (with its varied and many pitfalls) in general. Because I have many artists in my family, I do like to support designers, but I feel a bit different about supporting a designer who sells many of the same dress rather than one or few of a kind.

Even when I look at buying reused- the prices still make me feel like a disgusting American who, if she bought this dress, would not be considering how that much money could really make a big impact in schools in the US or in supporting poverty related issues internationally. I would love to feel excited and ok about the money I spend on my dress, but the more I look, the more I feel disgusted. Might you have any suggestions that could help make dress shopping fun and exciting again?

Thanks for your help.

Jordan in CA

Answer:

Dear Jordan,

You are not the first bride to feel repulsed at what has become a highly commoditized industry. Just watching three minutes of "Say Yes to The Dress," and seeing row after row of white bejeweled one-time-wear gowns reveals the ugly reality of the "wedding conveyer belt" awaiting us when we get engaged. The experience of over consumption, and the disposable culture surrounding American weddings, is enough to make that special feeling turn into nausea in three seconds flat. So - to answer your last question first, I think the way to feel excited about the process is to take a step back and remember what the goal is - to create a meaningful day that marks the start of your new lives together. Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING after that is completely optional. Joelle Novey, who works for Green America and wore a burgundy gown to her wedding told me that when she and her husband Ethan were planning their wedding they would ask themselves at each turn "Will this bring more joy to the event?" If the answer was no, they skipped it.

Now, I am not saying you have to toss the baby out with the bath water and fly in the face of convention, ritual or expectation - because these are powerful forces and can be very meaningful. I am just saying that you have to try to keep perspective while going through the process, and make decisions that feel right for the two of you.

Turning to the gown, I agree with you that there is something unpalatable about buying a gown that costs more than most cars to wear for 6 hours and pack in a closet. I think it is problematic both financially and environmentally. Most gowns are made overseas in places that have pretty abhorrent labor conditions, are created from petroleum-based fabrics and are bleached in toxic chemicals. After the wedding they are dry cleaned (a.k.a. dipped in more toxic chemicals) and stored in plastic wrap (more petroleum). 

So what's a girl to do? You want to - and should - look and feel gorgeous on your wedding day, and getting the right dress is an important part of that. So let me run through some options that I think will address your concerns.

Image: Wai-Ching

You raise a great point about supporting designers, and I certainly think there are gowns out there that really are works of art. Supporting an independent designer (like many of the sellers on Etsy and the designers in The Green Bride Guide shop) makes sense. The gowns these artists make take many hours, and are worth the cost if you value the work. Several designers are now using sustainable fabrics, like organic cotton and peace silk, so you know that even when buying new, the environmental impact of the purchase is much less.

However, you are also correct that most gowns cost more than they are worth (based on their material and craft) and that used dresses, while better, can still cost a pretty penny. The good news is that the cost becomes temporary if you resell (read "recycle") your gown after your wedding. I did this with a pair of Vera Wang shoes for my wedding. I bought them once worn for $50 on eBay and resold them for the same $50 - so all I paid for was the shipping and nothing new had to be created. This kind of recycling allows you to enjoy a luxury item with minimal environmental or financial impact. There are a number of companies renting high end gowns and jewelry now too - a practice that has the same benefits as above.

Image: The Costume Designer

If you feel strongly, as I did, that the money you spend should be supporting a worthy cause, consider buying a gown from Brides Against Breast Cancer's traveling trunk show, or from a store like the Bridal Garden in NY that supports inner city education. Even if you buy a new gown, you can donate it to one of these shops/causes after your event and know those dollars are making a difference. On this note, I also suggest you think about your wedding's overall impact, and consider setting up a charity registry, or giving donations in lieu of favors. There are many ways to have your wedding give back. Your allocated dress funds do not have to be the place to skimp if you want to splurge. Just remember that every choice makes a difference, so feel good about the things you are able to do.

Hope this helps!

One of the suggestions I make in The Green Bride Guide for brides who want to keep their gowns is to have them altered to create a new look you can wear again and again. In Season 6, Episode 8 of Project Runway the designers face a wedding dress challenge that illustrates some of the radical, and more subtle, changes that are possible. 

Here are some images of the transformations the designers were able to create in less than 24 hours. 

You can view the full Season 6, Episode 8 of Project Runway here. 

If you decide to revamp your wedding dress, be sure to find a good tailor or fashion designer. In addition to getting recommendations from friends and local bridal shops, you may want to have him or her work on another, less sentimental piece for you first. 

Bridal gowns not only can be transformed into cocktail dresses, but you can also have your gown made into a christening gown, a quilt, or other keepsake item. If you choose to preserve your gown as is, use a green dry cleaner.  You can also donate your gown to Brides Against Breast Cancer of another worthy cause.  

Question:

From Amy in Atlanta: Have you ever considered doing a green wedding quiz to help people learn about green choices? I think it would be fun and educational. 

Answer:

This is a great idea and something we will definitely look into in the future. In the mean time you might enjoy the green wedding quiz by Planet Green. Although it is made for people in the UK - so the numbers are a bit off (our weddings cause more pollution on average) - it still has some great tips and only takes a few minutes.