Your green promises:

Walk to school twice a week, Katie Doben, Winchester >> Buy food locally to cut down on carbon emissions, Ali Baylis >> Walk home from school, Rachel Carver, Winchester >> Start growing my own herbs and vegetable, Georgie Cave >> Turn lights off when I leave a room, Poppy De Groot >> Recycle everything that should go in the recycle bin, Catriona Brown, Hampshire >> Start growing my own herbs and vegetable, Alice C >> Cycle to work once a week, Jessie Baker >> Turn lights off when I leave a room, Mona Freidin, New York >> Recycle my household waste, Madeleine, Winchester >> Start growing my own herbs and vegetable, Johnny >> Take showers instead of baths. Nevet Basker, Bellevue, WA, USA >> Turn the tap off when I brush my teeth, Sharon Goldstein, Northwood >> Signed up to a renewable energy provider (Good Energy) and encouraging our visitors and members to do likewise, Moishe House London >> Reject opportunities to see the world, when that means taking a plane, Jeremy, London >> Dedicated to leading the way in environmental efforts through local & vegetarian catering, zero waste & reducing carbon emissions by 10% in 2010, Tzedek, London >> Re-use plastic bags when shopping, Lisa, London >> Find something to make with every item in my organic vegetable box, Penny Kustow, Rickmansworth >> Not use the car for short journeys, Jon, Damascus >> I will not leave the tap running while brushing my teeth, Lucy Freeman, 7 >> I will buy more vegetables from the farmers market, Ben, Stanmore >> I will join the 10:10 Campaign, Naomi, 28 >> I will turn off my laptop when I am not using it, Dave, 25, Golders Green >> I will recycle my paper and plastics, Jo, 46 >> I will reduce the temperature of my washing machine cycles, Evelyn, 35 >>

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Green and Just Celebration Guide

Whether you’re planning a small family gathering or a large event, you’ll encounter lots of choices about how to invite your guests, where they’ll stay, what they’ll eat, and how you’ll celebrate together.

This guide, created by the Californian Jewish Community can help you make those decisions in light of Jewish values.

Green Simcha Guidelines

When entertaining, celebrating or organising a simcha/event there are plenty of ways to reduce the carbon footprint. Although celebrations can be lavish, and it is hard to make an event completely ‘green’, these guidelines provide some practical suggestions for areas where you can make a difference.

Invitations

Email invitations if possible, but if you send printed invitations, make sure they are on recycled paper and encourage guests to recycle the invitations.
Consider post-card style invitations as these use less card/paper.
Ask for replies by phone or email, rather than including a separate reply card.
Print with low-toxic dyes or soy ink, double-sided where possible.

Travel

If possible choose a central location where it is easily accessible on public transport.
Encourage people to share cars, particularly if some of the guests are from out of town.
If your venue is away from where people live, consider a coach or minibus so guests can travel in fewer cars.
If you have guests attending from overseas consider offsetting their carbon. Whilst carbon offsetting is controversial (click here for more information on carbon offsetting), it is better to offset the carbon emissions that are unavoidable, rather than ignoring them.

Food

Ask your caterer to use seasonal foods and fairtrade products.
In the menu include information about the various ingredients, where they were sourced and why.
Sticking to a meat free meal will reduce the carbon footprint of your event enormously.
If you serve fish ensure it is sourced sustainably.

Gifts

If you are receiving gifts at your simcha, ask guests not to use wrapping paper.
Consider asking your guests for unusual green gifts e.g. to pay for the loft insulation/energy efficient boiler you wouldn’t be able to afford yourself.
Rather then consuming more, why not give a gift that will help others and has a real long-term benefit. We recommend the Good Gifts website

Crockery and tableware

Use non-disposable crockery wherever possible.
If choosing paper or plastic, choose goods made with recycled content. Vegware products, made from vegetables, can be ordered on-line here

Decorating/waste

Try to use natural decorations such as plants and freshly cut local flowers. These can be taken away at the end of the evening and then composted.
Consider centrepieces which can be donated or re-used.
Make sure everything that can be recycled is.
Wasted food, depending on the type, can also be given to charity.
If using balloons, consider latex as these are more environmentally friendly; make sure balloons are responsibly discarded after use.

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