The royal wedding carbon footprint

London - The carbon footprint of the royal wedding is a plus-sized one, reports The Telegraph.

The royal wedding will generate 6 765 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e), 12 times the annual emissions from the London palace or 1.23 times the annual emissions of the average UK household.

According to The Telegraph's environment correspondent Louise Gray, most of the carbon will be emitted by international guests flying in for the occasion.

While Prince Charles has made efforts to keep the food and flowers local and seasonal, the energy use involved still has leaves behind a substantial carbon footprint.

The Telegraph reports: "The total was calculated by the Certified Emissions Measurement And Reduction Scheme (CEMARS), that has been assessed by the Environment Agency as equivalent to the Carbon Trust Standard.

"Activities on the day of the wedding could be responsible for an estimated 2 808 tonnes of CO2e. Most is from the journeys of the 1 900 guests, of whom a quarter will come from abroad. Less than 13 tonnes is generated by accommodation, energy use, landfill and catering for the lunchtime reception and evening dinner at Buckingham Palace. "

Wills and Kate do their bit

The royal couple have taken a few small steps towards lowering the carbon footprint of their big day.

Kate Middleton's ring is reported to be made from Welsh gold rather than minerals from an exploitative mine. She could also make a statement if her dress is made from vegan silk or organic fairtrade cotton. However, the chances that she will wear a second-hand or vintage dress (which would be the most carbon-efficient) are slim to none.

All documents will be printed on recycled paper and FSC-certified wood will be used in the building of the media stands.