This month is Green Wedding month here at THF, and in one of the last posts we looked at why diamonds are a bad choice for green wedding rings and some other green wedding ring shopping tips. Today we’ll look at some specific places to shop for eco-friendly rings and some examples, but we’re going to start with greenKarat.
greenKarat is maybe king of the green wedding rings shops right now. They carry a vast selection of rings for both engagements and weddings. They offer eco-labeling to inform consumers about green certification – you can read about each piece in a …read more

Last year in the green wedding ring guide we looked in-depth at why diamonds are one of the worst choices for green weddings. Nothing has changed in a year by the way. Diamonds are still not eco-friendly, and worse, they’re not human-friendly either.

Amnesty International notes….
“Some diamonds have helped fund devastating civil wars in Africa, destroying the lives of millions. Conflict diamonds are those sold in order to fund armed conflict and civil war. Profits from the trade in conflict diamonds, worth billions of dollars, were used by warlords and rebels to buy arms during the devastating wars in Angola, the …read more

Last year we posted a green wedding series here at Tree Hugging Family. Of course being a blog, we get readers way later on who find the series, and still have questions. Recently, someone asked an excellent question on the Eco-Wedding Ring Options post…
“So what would people recommend doing with wedding and engagement rings they already have? My husband and I didn’t realize the ethical issues with gold and diamonds when we got married and are unsure what to do next. Keep it because the damage is already done or sell it and make a more ethical ring choice?”
It’s a …read more

Skip diamonds (for the most part) and give eco-friendly jewelry instead.
Serve organic treats, wine, and champagne.
Give organic flowers.
Green that night o’ love and recycle your unmentionables.
Get sexy and stay green.
Make your own cards – more special than store bought and you can reuse supplies you’ve got around the house. Or be sure to buy Valentine’s Day cards made with recycled materials.
For romance light organic soy or beeswax candles.

Looking for kid specific green Valentine’s Day ideas?
Coming up I’ve got some specific examples of the ideas above.
[image via stock.xchng]

Many wedding rings are not very eco-friendly. There are eco-issues with diamond trade, no matter if it’s “conflict free” or not (see below). There are also major problems that occur with gold mining.
If you’re looking for a greener wedding ring or commitment ring, you’ve got some different options.
Hit the streets: Used is your best bet and many higher end antique stores carry beautiful vintage rings. The negatives are that the rings you find still may be made with questionable materials, and the search can take longer. Plus mens rings in a style you like may be harder to come by.
Use …read more