How to Create an Ethical & Sustainable Wedding Registry
In this guide we’re exploring how wedding registries can be a great tool for sustainable gifting. There are some wonderful ethical & eco-friendly brands with registry options.
By choosing to register with these socially responsible businesses it encourages your wedding guests to purchase impactful products and they might even learn something about conscious consumerism through out the process.
This guide also features a few low waste registry options for couples who feel that they don’t want or need any gifts.
This post does contain some affiliate links. If you decide to make a purchase The Honest Consumer may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.
What is a wedding registry?
Zola defines a wedding registry as a personalized collection of gifts that an engaged couple has specifically chosen for their guests to shop from in order to make the wedding gifting experience simpler, easier, and more satisfying for everyone.
Historically wedding registries thrived in department stores allowing couples to go in, pick out, and scan items such as fancy dining sets and home goods, but now most registries are done online.
Couples can simply add items to their registry online and share the link with their guests. This makes it easier on the couple and those purchasing wedding gifts.
How are wedding registries sustainable?
Wedding registries can actually be a great tool for purchasing gifts that couples actually want & will use. In America we have a tendency to buy gifts just to buy.
While we might think our gift purchase is generous it’s important to stop and think if the item is something the recipient will want and use.
Purchasing wedding gifts from a registry that the couple is sure to use is more sustainable than gifting the couple an item that will end up donated, returned, or in a landfill.
Unfortunately a lot of returned products, even brand new returned items, do not make it back on shelves.
5 Places for Ethical & Sustainable Wedding Registries
These ethical and sustainable brands have wedding registries built into their websites allowing couples to easily share their wishes with wedding guests.
By registering at sustainable companies you’re also encouraging your wedding guests to learn about conscious consumerism.
Newly: Home Goods Made from 100% Recycled Materials
Newly makes beautiful home goods from 100% recycled or repurposed materials. Their products feature recycled cotton throw blankets, recycled glass drink ware, cutting boards, serving trays, and more.
These unique products make it easy for couples to add a bit of sustainable style to their next dinner party or gathering. Newly is also a Certified B Corporations, a new kind of business that balances purpose and profit.
They are required to consider the impact of their decisions on their workers, customers, suppliers, community, and the environment.
When I got married I personally registered at Newly. We received some wonderful sustainable glasses, candle holders, pitchers, and a cutting board.
West Elm: Sustainable Fair Trade Certified Home Goods & Furniture
West Elm is a great place to register because they have everything including furniture, bedding, dinnerware, and more.
West Elm has symbols that easily help brides & grooms to be to determine which products are sustainably sourced, Fair Trade Certified, locally made, and other socially responsible values.
West Elm is great because you can go in store to register or do it all online.
When we got married we registered at West Elm and got some amazing organic cotton bath towels, sustainable dinnerware, and more.
Made Trade: Modern Home & Wardrobe Registry
Made Trade carries ethically made goods for the modern wardrobe and home. Made Trade products are intentionally crafted, produced in small batches, and sustainably sourced with fair labor practices.
Couples will discover sustainable pans, dishes, fair trade table cloths, eco-friendly furniture, and more. Register through Made Trade to celebrate artisans, independent makers, local businesses and small companies that are creating amazing products with a story.
Earthhero: a REGISTRY For Low waste & Outdoorsy couples
Earthhero is an eco-friendly marketplace perfect for earth friendly couples to register on, especially couples who love to be outdoors.
Conscious consumers will discover camping gear, yoga essentials, zero waste swaps, linens, blankets, non-toxic cleaning products, travel gear, & more. Register with Earthhero to celebrate your wedding and your love for the planet!
Pottery Barn’s Ethical & Sustainable Items
Similar to West Elm, Pottery Barn has some fair trade and sustainable items. When registering consider looking for organic cotton bath towels, sustainable bedding, reclaimed wood furniture, artisan made rugs, and other socially responsible options.
Where did I register for my wedding?
Jake & I moved in together shortly after graduating college, so as young college graduates there were quite a few household products we did not have. I decided to register for gifts at Newly & West Elm due to their wide range of sustainable & fair trade products, along with a honeymoon fund.
Newly: I’d previously purchased a recycled glass pitcher and throw blanket from Newly, so I knew their eco-friendly products were high quality. We registered for some wonderful serveware from Newly including some drinking glasses, votives, Budapest Chef Board, and a few more items. We’ve loved all of items and can’t recommend them enough.
West Elm: I think West Elm has been a great leader in the push for ethical & sustainable furniture. We registered for some Fair Trade Certified nightstands, artisan made dinnerware including mugs, plates, and bowls, organic cotton bath towels, & more. One thing I loved about West Elm was that for more expensive items, you could choose to make the item a group gift which allowed guests to contribute to a certain item, but not feel pressured to purchase the whole item. This was really helpful with the few furniture items we registered for. West Elm products are always incredibly high quality and crafted to last.
Honeymoon Wishes: We had our guest contribute to our honeymoon fund. What I loved about Honeymoon Wishes is that our guest could pick a certain item. So we could register for a certain meal or activity and our guest could purchase that experience for us.
Amazon: As much as I would love to say that I registered 100% for ethical & fair trade products….it’s just not possible. I did as much as I could through West Elm and Newly, but certain items such as vacuum cleaners, shower liners, and other household goods weren’t available from these brands, so I did resort to Amazon for select items.
Low Waste Wedding Registry Alternatives
These registry options are great for couples who feel like they already have more than enough stuff.
Instead of registering for more stuff consider encouraging gifts to give to your favorite charity or create a honeymoon fund to allow guests to contribute to your post wedding trip.
Give Back with Charity Donations
BRIDES defines a charity wedding registry asa type of registry where couples asks guests to donate to a specific organization rather than purchase tangible gifts.
Couples can simply add a their favorite charity website to their wedding website or use a tool such as The Good Beginning to keep track of donations and send thank you notes. While a charity wedding registry gives back, this also reduces the risk of the newly wed couple receiving unwanted gifts that end up in the landfill.
Consider a honeymoon fund
A Honeymoon fund is a great option that allows guests to contribute to your post wedding trip.
There are a wide range of platforms that allow couples to receive direct deposits in exchange for a small percentage of transactions or have guests purchase certain experiences depending on where they are planning to vacation. We used Honeymoon Wishes and had a great experience.
As someone who recently got married I highly recommend couples make a registry and I encourage wedding guests to purchase from the couple’s choices.
For more tips & tricks on sustainable living be sure to follow The Honest Consumer on social media, subscribe to our newsletter, & check out the Ethical & Sustainable Brand Directory.