Sustainable Love: A Guide to Green Valentine’s Day Gifts
“Roses are red, violets are blue,
Climate action is the right thing to do.”
– A Valentine’s poem.
While the sentiment is sweet, Valentine’s Day is notorious for waste. From non-recyclable cards and balloons, to plastic ribbons and cellophane wrapped roses, saying “I love you” with these classic V-day staples has a hefty toll on the environment. Celebrate sustainably this Valentine’s Day, and try one of these green gifts.
Potted Plants
Give your loved one a breath of fresh air this Valentine’s Day. Plants not only live longer than most flowers, but they also absorb carbon dioxide and produce fresh oxygen, improving air quality in your home.
With so many different types of plants to choose from, there’s something for everyone. Have some fun with this, and choose a plant you feel best represents your partner or relationship.
DIY Gifts
You don’t have to be a master silversmith or the next Pissaco to make a memorable gift for your Valentine. It can be as simple as framing a photo, knitting a scarf, or drawing redeemable “coupons” for back rubs or other small favours. Whatever you decide, DIY gifts have an edge that store bought items don’t: your personal touch.
Your imagination is the limit, but be mindful of the materials you use and try to avoid plastic where possible. Having a plan can help limit waste, so you can feel good about making green gifts for your Valentine.
Adopt an Endangered Species
Skip on the teddy bear, and give your Valentine a real life Giant Panda or Emperor Penguin.
Organizations like The World Wildlife Fund make it possible to symbolically adopt endangered animals in your Valentine’s name. The donation you make goes towards conserving wildlife and our planet for future generations.
Say “I care about you” with a caribou, or “your my significant otter” with their very own river otter. With more than 40 species to choose from, you’re sure to find the perfect animal for your special someone. Adoption kits include a personalized adoption certificate and a plush stuffed animal of the species you adopted – all delivered in a reusable WWF bag.
Completely unique, this Valentine’s gift is thoughtful and shows a love for nature, making it a great green gift!
Plantable Card
Roughly one billion Valentine cards are sent globally every year. While this sounds sweet, cards can wreck havoc on the environment.
Since one tree can produce roughly 3,000 cards, when you consider one billion cards, it means over 300,000 trees are used! To make matters worse, cards with glitter or shiny laminate are not recyclable, and usually end up in a landfill. All of this to say “I love you.”
If cards are a must, pick up a plantable seed card. These cards are made of biodegradable eco-paper (100% post-consumer materials/no trees), and are embedded with seeds. When the paper is planted in a pot of soil, the seeds grow and the paper composts away. All that’s left behind is flowers, herbs or vegetables – zero waste! These cards are easy to plant and grow, and are a gift in itself!
Adopt an Acre
From South America’s rainforests to the great Northern Rockies, some of Earth’s most beautiful places need protecting. Choose a place you know your Valentine loves and fund an entire acre of land in their name.
These adoption programs help protect vital landscapes around the world, and are a thoughtful way to tribute someone you love. With many to choose from, organizations such as The Nature Conservancy (Adopt an Acre®) and Rainforest Alliance (Adopt-A-Rainforest) are well known for these programs.
Before donating to a charity, research the organization you’re considering. Good charities are transparent about how funds are allocated, so you can be sure your donation has a positive impact.
Make a Meal
Dining out on Valentine’s is a tradition for many, but there’s nothing quite like a romantic candlelit dinner in the comfort of your own home. Not only does dining in mean no traffic or take out containers, but you get to pick the full menu too!
When buying ingredients, look for sustainably sourced items and choose locally grown when possible. Farmers markets are a great place to find the freshest produce, and supporting them supports your local community too. Plus, you can create a real farm-to-table experience.
To further reduce your environmental impact this Valentine’s Day, opt for a meat-free dish. There are loads of delicious plant-based recipes online, for any cuisine you’re craving.
Go all out with eco-friendly table settings and set the mood with your favourite tunes. Check out our blog on hosting zero-waste meals for more green ideas.
Fair Trade Chocolate
Who doesn’t love this tasty treat? While this may seem like an easy go-to gift, choose your chocolates wisely.
The cocoa industry has a dark side. Linked to unethical treatment, unfair pay, and child labour; it’s also responsible for deforestation, emitting significant levels of carbon dioxide, and contributing to climate change.
To avoid supporting inhumane and environmentally damaging practices, look for chocolates marked “fair trade”. Fair trade chocolate is produced under ethical standards and priced to give farmers and labourers a sustainable wage. Unlike regular chocolate, fair trade is certified to ensure it was grown without child or forced labour, and is made in safe working conditions, in an environmentally-friendly way.
Fair trade chocolates taste just as good (if not better) than some of the big brands we all know, plus you can feel good about the impact of your purchase.
Gift an Experience
Classes, concerts, courses, oh my! Whatever your lover’s interests, there’s an option here for everyone.
Look into upcoming events or find the hottest new course in town. From couples’ kickboxing and horseback riding, to wine tasting, massages, and cooking classes, there are plenty of fun things to do with your Valentine. Even if February isn’t the season for it, gifting an experience gives you both something to look forward to down the road.
When choosing your experience, be mindful of its impact. After all, we are celebrating love so be sure your experience is a positive one for all involved – Earth included.
Reusable Gifts
Cute as they may be, most Valentine’s goodies don’t have a long lifespan, and are not eco-friendly. By opting for gifts designed to last, you can give something with value, and help keep waste out of the landfill too.
When picking a present for your special someone, ask yourself these three questions:
- Does it serve a purpose?
- Can it be used more than once?
- What is it made of, and how is it disposed after use?
Choose green gifts your Valentine can use, like scented candles, handmade soaps, or a natural after shave. To keep the carbon footprint of your purchase low, look for locally made gifts. You can usually purchase art, jewellery, clothing and other handmade items from artisans in your own city. Supporting local businesses is a great way to help sustain your community, and reduces the pollution associated with imported goods.
Tip: Gift Wrap
When it comes to wrapping your gift, be mindful to avoid plastic. Ribbons and shiny paper may look nice, but they’re not recyclable and break down into micro-plastics. (Did you know ribbon contains plastic?!).
Instead of investing in single-use wrappers that add to the landfill, opt for less wasteful ways to wrap your gifts. Kraft paper and hemp twine create a lovely rustic look, and no one will mind if you reuse a decorative tin or gift bag.
What are your favourite green gifts? Let us know in the comments, and be sure to follow us on social media for more sustainable living tips and green ideas.