Eco-Friendly Wedding Band Options
Posted by lindseyshoe
Consider these environmentally friendly wedding ring options, from vintage to natural bamboo. Who says you can’t have your diamond and be eco-friendly too?
Oh the anticipation of the engagement ring and the wedding band! The never-ending circle of the wedding band is meant to symbolize the infinity of the marriage commitment. Blushing brides dream that their marriage and their ring, of course, will last a lifetime. On the other hand, many brides to be are conscious of not wanting to have a never-ending negative impact on the environment caused by their choice of engagement ring or wedding band.
Many couples are making a commitment not just to each other, but to Mother Nature too, as they celebrate their wedding and begin their new life together. Many couples are opting for more eco-friendly weddings and green honeymoons as well. While engagement and wedding rings seem so small as they float on your hand, your choices can have a big impact on the environment.
Diamonds may be a girl’s best friend but can they be eco-friendly too?
Anyone who has seen or read about Blood Diamonds or the news of rape, maiming and murder surrounding the diamond trade have to take a pause when selecting a diamond engagement ring. In addition to human rights concerns, both diamond mining and gold mining has major environmental impacts.
Does this mean a girl can’t have her cake and wear her diamond too? Certainly not. Buying recycled or vintage engagement rings and wedding bands from an antique sale or estate jewelry sale is one green option that allows couples to by-pass the economically encouraging diamond mining and gold mining.
If it just has to be original, real, new and all “you,” there are options for finding Certified Fair Trade stones and bands. Just like Certified Fair Trade coffee brands, Certified Fair Trade rings let you know that you’re supporting people friendly and eco-friendly wedding ring suppliers. Also look for the term “Conflict Free” diamonds and inquire to verify this status. If you are interested a stone other than a diamond or simply a precious metal band, there are also Fair Trade Certified Gemstones and options for buying recycled Gold, Silver or Platinum bands.
If you are willing to get over the “real” diamond and gemstone aspect (and hey, marriage is all about compromise) you can save yourselves some green while making a green wedding ring choice too. Cultured diamonds and gemstones are grown in a lab and not mined from the earth so they reduce the carbon footprint on the earth.
You can go green by going local too.
O.K., we’re not talking about buying your engagement ring and wedding bands at the closest chain jewelry store. Just like buying local produce grown and sold by local farmers is always greener, having a local artist design your unique wedding ring means your ring didn’t leave a circular trail of fuel use and emissions around the world.
Is Bamboo for you?
Bamboo is a renewable resource that is being used more and more to create greener furniture, house wares and kitchen supplies from utensils to cutting boards.
Did you know that bamboo can also be crafted to make beautiful wedding bands? Bamboo bands are offered in a variety of colors and can also have designs or inscriptions burned into them.
Whether you choose vintage, recycled, bamboo or Certified Fair Trade wedding rings, you can make the circle of your green wedding ring choice represent your commitment to the round Earth as well as symbolize your never-ending love.
OH, that kind of WEDDING BAND. For a second I thought you meant ENTERTAINMENT, which led me to click the link.
Kopy Katz are a tight 5 piece party/dance Georgia band that is ECO-FRIENDLY and CARBON NEUTRAL. As a solar engineer, I’ve rigged a couple solar panels we can use to power our amps and PA in remote sites during daylight hours. We have purchased carbon offsets to cover our trips to gigs etc. and are committed to having fun sustainably! Check out our myspace page above or email me for info at steve@kopykatzlive.com