Valentine’s Day is a beautiful celebration of love, but like most holidays, it is not always eco-friendly. Many celebrations and gifts involve excessive packaging, single use items, and other things that are not sustainable. With some small changes, you can make the day a little more eco-friendly. Here are some ways to reduce your carbon footprint.
Sustainable, Thoughtful Gifts
Consider Valentine’s Day gifts that are personal, sustainable, and long-lasting. Instead of cut flowers, look for potted plants or plants that can be planted. Look for local, handmade, and ethical gifts when you do your shopping.
A great alternative are experience gifts. These allow you to make memories, and are just as meaningful without buying any material items.
Ethical and Local Chocolates
Chocolate is a Valentine’s Day tradition, but conventional chocolates don’t are not always sustainable.
Look for chocolate that are fair trade and Rainforest Alliance certified. Local chocolates have a lower carbon footprint, and support local businesses.
Sustainable gift wrap
There are many alternatives to traditional gift wrap. Look for recycled gift wrap, or reuse or upcycle materials for gift wrap. You can also use fabric or bags as wrap.
Sustainable dining
Plan out a meal at home that is sustainable, from locally sourced, organic ingredients, to eco-friendly decor, such as beeswax candles.
If you prefer dining out, support a restaurant that prioritizes sustainability and farm-to-table ingredients.
Eco-Friendly Flowers
Cut flowers are often not sustainable, as they are imported, wrapped in plastic, and treated with chemicals.
Alternatives to traditional flowers include locally grown flowers, potted flowers, or dried flowers. There are also nice decorative flowers made from wood or paper.
Sustainable Jewelry
If jewelry is part of your Valentine’s Day gifting, make sure to look for pieces that are sourced ethically.
These could be vintage, second hand, lab grown, conflict free diamonds, recycled. Also try to support local businesses that follow these initiatives.
What do you think?