Helping the Planet with my small wedding accessories business

For many years we have all been aware of the need to reduce human impact on the earth; and the ‘reuse, reduce, recycle’ campaign has been around for decades and is known by all and practised by many, which is great news. 

I have spent the last 30 years trying to do my small part in reducing my personal impact on the environment, re-using what I can and recycling anything that I know to be recyclable (although this isn’t always made easy). 

For the most part I thought I was doing enough by ensuring what I was using went into the right boxes for recycling, and trying not to buy things I didn’t need. I became a non-meat eater, and have been trying to teach my children what I have learned and what they should do. 

But it is definitely not enough. So, for the last few years I’ve been looking and asking about lots of small changes I can make, while living in a 21^st century world where ‘disposable’ cheap products are on our doorstep and integrated into our lives. So, what am I doing to help the planet with my small wedding accessories business?

So, what am I  doing to help my wedding business be kind to the environment?

One aspect I have mentioned lately is that I have stopped using plastic in my packaging. Where possible I use paper tape, and the packing inside my boxes is recycled paper which I save from packages I receive and paper I use. 

I try to source all I can from smaller UK suppliers. It sits better with me that I have tried, where possible, not to order automatically from overseas.  We can’t all stop flying, and travelling with so many family and friends living all over the world; and our lives depend on imports and exports. But if there is a way for me to find a UK supplier, then hopefully I am not adding an unnecessary burden on importing the goods. It is not always possible. So, when I have to, I will try and order as much as I can in one go, so it is just one order. Not as much of what I make or use is from overseas – but it is an ongoing search. And when I can reach the point of never needing to order from overseas suppliers, then I will be happy.

I walk to post all my orders. Luckily enough, I live in an area where the post office isn’t too far for me to travel. I choose to post on certain days where I can combine the walk with something else that I need to do.

Gardening is a passion of mine, and I love having cut flowers in the house. Especially if brides are visiting. But I really want to try and keep cut flowers to UK grown. I am in the process of changing things in my garden – I’ve moved to peat free products where possible, introduced water collection, and a bird feeder; and I am trying to sow (and make cuttings) seeds of UK plants and flowers that will grow in my own garden that I can pick and bring indoors instead. This really is a work in progress. But some of my plants are now thriving, and I am trying to introduce more native plants that are better for the birds, bees and insects.

So why am I telling you this? 

Well, I have been doing some research lately to see if there is anything more I can do to be pro-active with my commitment to the planet and environment within my business. This is where BUGLIFE comes in. 

“If we and the rest of the back-boned animals were to disappear overnight, the rest of the world would get on pretty well. But if the invertebrates were to disappear, the world’s ecosystems would collapse.” –

Sir David Attenborough

For more information about BUGLIFE

Pop over to the website and read all about Buglife and their current projects.

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“To appreciate the beauty of a snowflake, it is necessary to stand out in the cold” – Aristotle