As graduates nationwide march across stages at their commencements, I’m thrilled to discover one company that is helping them to do it with green eco-style.

Oak Hall Cap & Gown has found a way to divert over 7 million plastic bottles from landfills with their Greenweaver line of graduation gowns made of 100% post-consumer plastic.

Each eco-friendly gown is made from molten plastic pellets derived from about 23 plastic bottles and the company’s orders have tripled in just the last year.

Surely even more colleges and universities will join the party when they discover that the manufacture of these Greenweaver gowns also reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 54% and saves 52% on energy costs by using thermal energy instead of petroleum. Plus the gowns come in recycled plastic bags and are shipped in recycled cardboard containers.

And get this: they cost about $2 LESS than the old polyester gowns!

In addition, Greenweaver provides collection boxes to college campuses to help encourage recycling of the gowns after their use and makes a donation to each campus’s sustainability program with purchase.

So come on, Vintage Crusaders, help spread the word and, in the meantime, don’t forget to make your own graduation celebrations as green as possible. Here’s ten quick tips:

1. Send evites instead of paper invitations.
2. Use cloth napkins or inexpensive cloth bandannas instead of paper napkins.
3. Rent or borrow silverware, tableware and stemware instead of purchasing disposable items.
4. Or choose compostable dinnerware and utensils.
5. Set up recycling containers as well as trash receptacles.
6. Consider serving prepared drinks from pitchers rather than drinks prepackaged in aluminum cans or plastic bottles.
7. Choose organic or local alcoholic beverages.
8. Support your local farmers by shopping for local, in-season produce and flowers grown locally.
9. Plan a menu heavy on finger-foods which require less plates and utensils.
10. Use natural, recycled or repurposed materials for party decorations.

Then don today’s VPOD to be the greenest hostess-with-the-mostest.

This vintage 1970s frock is a modern take on a 1920s flapper dress and has easy-breezy styling with a fab fringed belt.

It’s a chic commencement find for a vintage fashionista!

Available at Posh Girl Vintage.

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