Page 30 - Masala Lite Issue 155 November 2023

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5 Ways to Reduce Waste at Your Wedding
A green guide for eco-conscious couples.

BY KRIPA SINGH Share Your Food
No Indian wedding is complete without a great variety of food. Hence, we don’t
Sustainability and conscious consumerism are on suggest sending your guests home hungry, but quantities can be based on RSVPs
the tips of everyone’s tongues. People are more to avoid waste. You can also curate a seasonal menu with local ingredients. If you
mindful of the way they shop, eat, and dispose of are hosting an intimate wedding, explore plated dishes, which tend to generate less
everyday items. Fortunately for the environment, waste than a buffet.
some Indian weddings are also joining the Green
Revolution. In case you do anticipate leftovers, contact a food rescue organisation. For instance,
Scholars of Sustenance (SOS) Thailand redistributes high-quality surplus food to
Disgruntled by the non-biodegradable waste those in need. Be sure to speak to your caterer and the organisation to note the local
caused by the big fat Indian wedding, many laws for food donation safety requirements.
couples are now seeking ways to host more eco-
conscious celebrations. Aside from obvious choices Look Local for Décor
like getting rid of plastic straws, there are many The opulence of the décor at Indian weddings often contributes to a plethora of
feasible and creative ways you can go green on waste. But this doesn’t mean you have to go minimal. Speak to your décor team
your big day. Here are five ways in which you can to suggest creative ideas and source local handicrafts, like rattan elements. You’ll
reduce the environmental impact of your wedding. also be supporting the craftsmen of the country, without compromising on your big
Plant Your Invites day’s aesthetic.
Set the green tone by opting for eco-friendly invites. Nowadays, most couples are Flowers are natural but are often imported from countries with climates that are
going paperless and choosing to message or email their invitations. Mother Nature favourable for growth. To stay green, relinquish the stranglehold of specific flower
approves digital invites. But if you still like the idea of going the traditional route types and colours and give your decorator leeway so that they can work with blooms
with physical cards, you can go the extra mile with ‘plantable’ paper. that are naturally in season.
Seed paper is an eco-friendly material made from post-consumer matter and embedded Choose Green Gifts
with wildflowers, herb, or vegetable seeds. When you plant the cardstock in a pot When it comes to purchasing gifts and hampers, avoid plastic and excessive packaging.
of soil, the seeds in the paper germinate and grow into plants. Available via several All those wrappers and plastic bags can accumulate. Choose environmentally-friendly
online sources, plantable paper is easy to procure. wedding packaging and explore eco-friendly favours like natural soaps, soy wax
Choose A Guilt-Free Luxury Venue candles, and jars of organic honey.
Look for venues that use sustainable resources and incorporate environmentally- When it comes to receiving gifts, instead of accepting them, request your guests to
friendly practices. For instance, Shangri-La Bangkok by the riverside has installed donate to an environmentally-friendly charity of your choosing. This is a simple way to
solar panels that power a water heating system, generating enough renewable energy take your eco-friendly wedding to the next level and requires little work on your end.
to heat hot water for their 802 guestrooms. Seek out solar panels, green roofs, and Checkout organisations like Forestmatic, which offer tree-planting operations in
water-conserving plumbing fixtures. There are plenty of venues that can offer you Thailand. You can request guests to donate to them to offset your CO₂ emissions,
guilt-free luxury. and thus ensure that at the very least, you host a carbon-neutral wedding.

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