While it may seem early to think about them, class graduations involve a lot of careful planning to ensure a fun and memorable experience for students, parents, and staff alike. As part of this planning process, schools have the opportunity to consider a key aspect of this yearly tradition: how green is their graduation? We’ve put together some tips for schools interested in exploring more sustainable options.
Gowns
Did you know that most schools in Canada choose disposable non-recycled and non-recyclable graduation gowns? With a little research, you’ll find that there are more sustainable options.
Renting grad gowns
According to academic regalia company Gaspard, if every high school graduate in Canada wore a souvenir gown for their graduation over the next 17 years, nearly six million gowns would end up in landfills – enough to stretch from Vancouver to St. John’s.
To prevent this, schools can rent gowns for almost the same price as buying disposable ones. They can be delivered and picked up; all schools have to do is collect them once all the photos have been taken.
“We used to have our own gowns, but renting them is so much more convenient! They are delivered right to the graduation location with each one labelled for the student it is for. The old gowns that we had were worn and were a hassle and expensive to dry clean or launder. Now Gaspard delivers our gowns and picks them up, and it’s easy-peasy! We would never go back, or order disposable gowns.”
Choosing sustainable
Another alternative is to source gowns that are made from recycled water bottles. Some gown providers will also give schools bins so that those that aren’t kept as souvenirs can be collected after graduation, then picked up by the gown provider to be recycled again.
Going beyond gowns
Gowns are just one aspect of graduation ceremonies, there are lots of sustainability factors to consider. What about a prom gown swap rather than buying new? Can guests bring their own reusable service ware? Waste-free decorations?
Whatever the preferences, we encourage schools to do their homework; find out what their school board policies are, research the options in their area, and make the choices that they think are the best for their school community and the planet. Greening events can be claimed as part of a school’s EcoSchools certification application in the Teamwork and Leadership section, and can be brought into classroom learning as part of a discussion on responsible and ethical consumerism.
Got some great solutions? Share your ingenious ideas with us via Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram tagging @EcoSchoolsCAN!
Note: It’s important to check with your school and school board to see what existing policies are in place before committing to any products, services, or arrangements with third parties.