Congratulations on your engagement! Now comes the fun part – and no, we don’t mean planning your party! We’re talking about picking items for your registry. And if you’re an ecologically- or socially-minded couple, it’s natural that you’d want to select homewares that have a minimal impact on the planet and its people. As a company committed to upholding high ethical standards, we’ve put together a few guidelines for principled wedding registries.
Look for Renewable and Recycled Resources
Many guests love to gift traditional homemaking items, and it’s a great opportunity to channel their kindness into greener purchases. Earthenware and porcelain are generally environmentally friendly, and with a bit of homework you can find makers who re-use heat from their kilns to warm water or heat greenhouses. Bamboo serving utensils are much more sustainable than many alternatives, and innovative producers are finding ways to make serving platters and bowls from powdered bamboo mixed with non-toxic binders. It can take a bit of legwork, but by doing your research on the materials that make up your registry items, you can feel confident that you’re doing your part to reduce unsustainable material consumption.
Consider Where Items are Made – And Who They’re Made By
While ecological sustainability is important, it’s also crucial to think about socially ethical goods. As recent reports on Uzbekistani cotton production have shown, forced and child labor are still major concerns in some parts of the world. If you’re just as interested in ensuring the welfare of people around the world, it’s important to consider where the goods you register for are made, and by extension, who’s making them. As a starting point, we recommend looking for products that are made in the United States and made of materials grown domestically as well. Beyond that, it’s important to look into the transparency of a company’s sourcing and supply chain. The more you can learn about where the items come from and how they’re made, the more confident you can be that you’re making a choice that supports ethically sound labor practices.
Buy Only the Best – And Then Supplement Things with Experiences
One of the most sustainable things you can do is reduce your consumption overall. This can be achieved in two ways through your wedding registry. By selecting high-quality products in classic designs that will last and look good for years to come, you’ll be able to reduce the frequency with which you’ll need to replace them. And once you’ve registered for the things you need – or if you already have a household full of items – think about registering for experiences that aren’t as taxing on the environment. Maybe it’s registering for cooking classes or a membership to a parks association, but many modern couples are prioritizing experiences over things – often to the benefit of the planet.
Consider Registering for Charitable Donations
Finally, you may want to think about encouraging your guests to make a donation to a cause or organization that’s close to your heart. By selecting an organization that contributes to the betterment of the environment or the world’s people, you’ll be able to help that organization make meaningful change, as well as helping to foster a spirit of giving amongst your guests. If it matters to you as a couple, your guests will be touched to see you using your big day as an opportunity to highlight the importance of sustainability.
Here at PimaCott, we’re encouraged and inspired by couples choosing to prioritize ecological and socially sustainable gift-giving. We’re proud of our commitment to high ethical standards in the production of our verified pure pima cotton, and our unique ability to trace this high-quality natural material from the fields of California’s San Joaquin Valley to the luxurious Wamsutta sheets and towels you can purchase on store shelves today.
