Environmental Etiquette: How to Be Green But Not Mean
Our resident etiquette expert, Truly Green, offers advice on how to talk to friends and family about making greener choices. Change begins with individuals, and it takes many individuals to create a movement. So why not talk about waste reduction and sustainable consumption with your loved ones today?
Submit your Truly Green questions here.
Dear Truly Green,
My daughter and her partner are recently engaged and discussing the logistics of a destination wedding. They don’t seem concerned about the financial burden of this plan to prospective invitees; nor are they worried about the environmental implications of asking 75 people to fly overseas. What can I say to persuade them that a wedding right here in our hometown will be more sustainable and more budget-friendly?
Sincerely, Wedding Worrier
Dear Wedding Worrier,
A recent study showed that the average American wedding has a carbon footprint of about 56 tons. Transportation typically accounts for about 43% of that footprint. So, while I don’t want to rain on your daughter’s beautiful day, you’re not wrong that a local wedding will be more sustainable. Couples interested in planet-friendly events should definitely consider the collective amount of travel required of their guests. Some couples with many friends and family coming from out of town choose a wedding date near a holiday or family reunion, when people will be coming to town anyway. If you can’t convince your daughter to stay local, remind her that she can make sustainable choices in other ways: choose seasonal produce for the meals; reduce the amount of meat and dairy served; choose vintage outfits; request refurbished or secondhand gifts. None of us live carbon-neutral lives; we sometimes prioritize convenience or fun over the environment. As long as we’re making responsible and sustainable choices throughout our daily lives, we can perhaps forgive ourselves–and each other– for the occasional moments when we don’t.
Dear Truly Green,
I love my neighbors, but I hate looking at their yard. The weeds are wild, the lawn is always brown and spiky, the giant compost bin is an eyesore, and they’ve just set up two huge blue plastic barrels that they’re using to catch rainwater. I appreciate that they care about the environment, but I wish that they also cared about the look and feel of our neighborhood. How do I talk to them about cleaning up their act without offending them?
Sincerely, Environmental Eyesore
Dear Environmental Eyesore,
While I agree that compost bins and rain barrels are perhaps not the most attractive yard decorations, I’m afraid I must side with your neighbors on this one. It sounds like they’re focused on attracting pollinators, avoiding chemicals, and transforming their food waste into something useful instead of sending it to a landfill or incinerator. Instead of focusing on what you don’t like about their yard, what if you looked for the silver lining? For instance, I wouldn’t be surprised if there were more birds in your neighborhood than there were before, thanks to the extra insects and the lack of pesticides. Part of thinking sustainably means recognizing that your own yard is connected to everything and everyone around you. Your neighbor might not be prioritizing conventional outdoor beauty, but her sustainable choices are certainly benefiting the waters and wildlife for everyone–including you.