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Hayne House, Kent, enables couples to tie the knot in eco-friendly style
However wonderful weddings are by nature they can unfortunately have a big environmental impact. According to the Sustainable Wedding Alliance, the average carbon footprint of a UK wedding exceeds the average yearly footprint for a household. With all eyes on the UK in the lead up to COP26 and a new wedding season upon us, autumn is a chance to use nature as an inspiration and celebrate love sustainably.
Around 278,000 couples tie the knot every year in the UK. And, in 2021 more than 550,000 weddings are expected to take place following delays caused by the pandemic. From food waste to energy used to power the celebrations, upcoming weddings could have a negative impact on the environment. But an eco-friendly wedding venue, like Hayne House in Kent, can provide couples with a simple solution to go one step greener for their special day.
The family-run business has joined thousands of UK businesses in making a public commitment to reach net zero by 2050 at the UK Business Climate Hub. Reaching net-zero means the amount of greenhouse gases a business produces is no more than the amount taken away, eliminating all negative impact on the planet.
Hayne House founder, Fleur Record Smith, says, "Weddings can be extremely wasteful and indulgent, and given the pressure on resources and the climate crisis we are facing, business as usual is no longer an option. We feel we have to take responsibility for the environmental impact of the weddings we host, and we understand that we can't do that alone, so we try to encourage our suppliers and couples to make more sustainable choices. For couples, having a sustainable wedding doesn't mean having to compromise on style and quality."
Hayne House is a venue devoted to doing things differently in order to make weddings kinder to the environment and the team work tirelessly behind the scenes to provide couples support, helping them design a sustainable wedding to suit their needs and dreams, without compromising their vision.
Actions taken by Hayne House include:
- Installing a rain-water harvesting system to water its gardens
- Starting the replacement of all windows within the country house to make it more energy efficient
- Creating an incentives programme for couples to encourage them to make more sustainable choices
- Reviewing all procurement to include local and sustainable suppliersImplementing more recycling across the venue and bedrooms
The Government launched the Together for Our Planet campaign in June to encourage small businesses to go green, as well as a new UK Business climate hub where businesses can get advice and support and make a commitment to become net zero. This is part of the government's plans to build a greener Britain by cutting greenhouse gas emissions, paving the way for the global Race to NetZero.
In September, the campaign also launched the Heroes of Net Zero competition for businesses across the UK with fewer than 50 employees. Run by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, it will showcase the companies taking the most innovative actions to reduce their own greenhouse gas emissions. Entrants could win a tailored package of business support from BT, NatWest and SSE Energy Solutions, worth £4,500. The best entries will also be invited to attend a special event at the COP26 international climate change summit.
To find out more about hosting your green wedding day at Hayne House, head over to https://haynehouse.co.uk
