WARNING: Sugar rush ahead! Maybe love shouldn’t be all red and pink. Take a read for green Valentine’s Day tips, tricks, and thoughts.
Ah, love is in the air – the chocolates, sweet-smelling roses, all those fluffy little teddy bears. Whether you are a dedicated Valentine’s Day celebrator or not, love is a special thing. I would hope that we show love to our significant others, families, and friends all year round. But there is certainly nothing wrong with setting a day aside to go the extra mile. Hey, I’m not about to spoil your gift-giving spirit, but let’s have a little chat before you toss those candy wrappers in the garbage.
As with most holidays, there is an environmental cost where gift-giving is involved. So, how can we show love to the special people in our lives while still showing love to the planet? It’s time to unwrap a few green Valentine’s Day suggestions of environmental “yes’s and no’s.” Think of it like the planet is passing you a love note in elementary school that says “check ‘yes’ if you love me and ‘no’ if you don’t.” Bad analogy? I’m full of them. But I can promise that this blog post is sure to be sugar-sweet.
Win My Candy Heart
I know that some people love those little candy Sweethearts, but I’ve never been a fan of the chalky-ness (maybe I’m just cold hearted). However, when it comes to some quality chocolate, I am absolutely sold. Turns out that Americans spend about $1.7 billion on candy leading up to Valentine’s Day (dentists everywhere cringe). That’s a lot of cavities in the making. But maybe it’s not just the cavities we need to worry about. Candy wrappers aren’t easily recyclable. And even those beautiful boxes of fancy chocolates come wrapped in plastic.
I’m not telling you to forget chocolate in this season of love. However, maybe there’s a planet-friendly solution that can showcase some creative skills and cut down on all that extra packaging.
Green Valentine’s Day: Tip One
My solution for the candy problem includes shopping the bulk food aisle at your local grocery store or visiting a specialty chocolate shop. This gives you the power when it comes to choosing packaging. Here are the steps:
- Bring your own eco-friendly container (maybe a fun glass container)
- Choose your candies to fill the container
- Top it off with a beautiful bow (try some twine and a sprig of flowers)
Your loved one definitely won’t think this was a last-minute purchase, and it’s a sweet gift for all genders. I do have to admit that my favorite chocolate does come wrapped in some plastic (though the outermost layer is recyclable). Hu Chocolate makes the absolute best vegan, gluten-free, Fair Trade chocolate. So, if you find yourself stuck with candy wrappers, consider recycling through TerraCycle. They have a specialty recycling box just for wrappers!
Shower Me with Flowers
Considering the fact that Americans spend $2 billion dollars on flowers for Valentine’s Day, I acknowledge that florists depend on this holiday for their livelihood. That being said, there are environmental concerns with purchasing bouquets. Stick with me through the environmental thorns, but I promise to give some solutions before you put your beautiful vase away.
A lot of bouquets come wrapped in plastic. That’s a pretty common environmental concern. Even more so, since cut flowers are not an edible crop, farmers are not required to follow the same pesticide regulations. One of the most commonly used pesticides on this type of flowers is five times more destructive to our ozone layer than even Carbon Dioxide. In addition, many of these flowers are grown in warmer countries and then transported in refrigerator trucks to their destination. These trucks use 25% more fuel than the average truck and require more energy because of the refrigeration process.
Green Valentine’s Day: Tip Two
Let’s go back to Valentine’s Day 2018. I decided to give my now-husband an aloe plant for Valentine’s Day. This was partially a joke since he is famous for hurting himself (aloe has healing properties), but I also thought it would be a sweet gesture. Though I wasn’t thinking about it at the time, this is actually a much more sustainable option. So, let’s jump into those sweet-smelling solutions.
- Choose a potted plant instead or plant your own
- Get a bouquet from a local florist that sources flowers from a local, organic farm
- Pick your own flowers if it’s not winter where you live
- Buy seeds for a future garden
Looking for a really cheesy idea? You could include the seeds in a card that reads “I just can’t wait to see how our relationship grows.” If that makes you gag a little, I’m right there with you, but it’s still kind of cute. To be fair, our aloe love plant is going strong. In fact, so much so, that it really needs to be re-potted. Look at this thing tilt.
Wrap it with Words
Words are one of the best ways to show love. While gifts are special, words just add a personal touch of thoughtfulness. And trust me, I am all about the handwritten card. But does it really matter what you write your love note on? Does it need to be the perfect, lacy pink card? Or the comedic superhero pop-up card? Ultimately, the card might produce an “ooh and ah” or a five second laugh, but it’s what you say that really matters.
The environmental truth about your glitter card isn’t that pretty. Unfortunately, many cards have un-recyclable decorations like glitter, bows, beads, and more. In the end, 33% of cards are not recycled.
Green Valentine’s Day: Tip Three
I’m not about to give up telling people that I love them through the written word. So, how can I turn this into a green Valentine’s Day win? Let’s dive into my card-pile of thoughts:
- Reuse (upcycle) old cards – cover up the old writing
- Send an e-card
- Write a sweet note in your favorite book to give as a gift
- Forego a card altogether and record your thoughts
- Looking for a money-saving option? You could always read each other cards in the store
I will say that an e-card isn’t really my style, as I tend to keep meaningful cards. So, I prefer the old school ideas. That’s why I love reusing old cards to make a new card creation. Plus, it makes me seem super crafty.
Bonus Paper-Saving Tip: Looking to score extra eco-friendly points? Forget the wrapping paper! You’re just going to tear it off and throw it away anyway.
Love Bear
I can’t lie on this one – I’ve never really understood the connection between teddy bears and Valentine’s Day. I guess it’s a cute, snuggly bear that you give to the person you love to snuggle the most? Feel free to set me straight down in the comments if I’m missing something here. Definitely not against this, but it’s just not my kind of gift. For those of you who have stuffed animal lovers in your life, let’s dig into the environmental concerns.
As with anything fabric-based, there will always be planet impact. All the plush making your favorite bear so plump and cuddly is generally made from 100% polyester. Polyester is far from sustainable as it’s made in part from petroleum and is not biodegradable. The microfibers that come from polyester make up a large portion of the microplastics that are polluting our waterways too!
Green Valentine’s Day: Tip Four
How can we turn this from a planet problem to a snuggly solution? Some ideas ahead:
- Research eco-friendly stuffed animal brands (Bears for Humanity is one example)
- Forget the fake animal and go snuggle real pets at a shelter or pet store!
- Are you also a stuffed animal lover? Give one of your favorites to your loved one.
If you’re super crafty, you could always make a stuffed animal out of a sustainable fabric or repurpose an old piece of clothing. You will not find me sewing – it makes me cry. But I would love to hear (or see pictures) if any of you have made some teddy bears in your lifetime!
Think Outside the Chocolate Box
Now this is my kind of green Valentine’s Day gift. I am all about the outside of the box gifts, which I acknowledge, makes me difficult to buy for (sorry, sweetheart!). There are so many ways to show love that don’t involve physical gifts. Though this can involve a little more thinking for all of us, it’s also the most personal gift option, as it requires you to know your significant other well.
Green Valentine’s Day: Tip Five
I love a creative gift because I know that it takes more time and thought than simply buying something. Of course, I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with a good store-bought gift! I suppose I like to be a bit unconventional, so how about a few unconventional ideas from an unconventional girl:
- Plan a getaway trip
- Give the gift of an experience
- Set a day aside just to spend quality time together
- Do an act of service for the other person
And this is just a jumping-off point! Maybe it’s a day to bake together or a spa date. I would certainly consider it a Valentine’s Day gift if my significant other cleaned the house for me (this is NOT a hint…well…maybe…). Let me know what you come up with if you decide to go the “outside the chocolate box” route!
From My Heart to Yours
I want to acknowledge that not all of us have significant others in our lives. That being said, Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to show love to any meaningful person in your life. And certainly no one is above buying chocolate for themselves. Actually, a survey revealed that roughly 43% of Americans will buy themselves candy during the Valentine’s Day season. You’re not alone.
I hope you feel loved, and if you’re feeling lonely, reach out to others in your life who may be feeling similarly. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. We’re all connected on this planet. So, let’s show love to each other and to the planet we share. Happy Valentine’s Day, my friends!
Be Well. With Love.
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