When cupid’s arrows are aplenty, so too, unfortunately, are the carbon footprints of our well-meaning gestures. So here we cover easy ways to have a more sustainable valentine’s day this year.
In the U.S. alone, an estimated 145 million Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged annually, making it the second-largest seasonal card-sending occasion of the year. Not to mention the mountains of chocolates and flowers sold during Valentine’s week, often clad in layers of plastic packaging that are anything but sweet.
Let’s make this Valentine’s Day not just about exchanging hearts but also about heartening our commitment to doing better for people and the environment. Read on for some Valentine’s Day gift ideas and tips that will help you spread love, not waste.
Contents: Eco-Friendly Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas & Tips
- Sustainable Valentine’s Day Candy Jump to section
- Sip Some Sustainable Wine Jump to section
- Give Planted Flowers Over Cut Ones Jump to section
- Gift Sustainably Sparkly Jewelry Jump to section
- Hand Out Sustainable Valentine’s Day Cards Jump to section
- Slip Into Some Sustainable & Spicy Lingerie Jump to section
- Get Crafty & Creative With Cupid Decor Jump to section
- Host A Romantic Home Cooked Vegan Dinner Jump to section
- Plan Sustainable Date Experiences Jump to section
- Relax With An Organic Spa Day at Home Jump to section
- Say “I Love You” With Secondhand Treasures Jump to section
Sustainable Valentine’s Day Candy
Chocolate is a beloved part of Valentine’s Day, symbolizing both luxury and love. Forward-thinking ethical chocolate brands are the way to go and in some cases can even be found in your local grocer:
Tony’s Chocolonely makes seriously delicious slave-free chocolate through traceable cocoa beans. It’s a go-to gift for us that almost everyone appreciates. Packaging is also entirely recyclable (just roll the foil into a ball and wait until you have a ball the size of your fist before putting in curbside recycling).
Alter Eco offers organic, fair trade chocolate, notable for being made with over 50% cocoa from regenerative agriculture, compostable packaging, and a commitment to Fair Trade practices.
Toute Douceur Candy brings the allure of handcrafted chocolate boxes, showcasing the unique appeal and smaller ecological impact of artisanal chocolate production.
Sip Some Sustainable Wine
Having a romantic dinner or just hanging out with friends to celebrate Valentine’s Day? Chances are, a bottle of wine will be part of the fun. These brands are all love:
Enter Winc; an organic wine subscription service that is changing the game by bringing sustainability to the forefront of viniculture. They allow wine lovers to explore a diverse range of eco-friendly wines, tailored to their taste preferences.
Beziger Wines offer Bordeaux-style, biodynamic or organic wines made from vines grown in Californian.
Give Planted Flowers Over Cut Ones
When we think of Valentine’s Day, it’s often the classic image of a bouquet of freshly cut flowers that springs to mind.
But consider some that symbolizes a deeper, more enduring love. Instead of cut flowers that die in a matter of days, let’s make planted flowers a go-to. Bonus points if you plant it for them in an eco-friendly planter.
This simple yet meaningful change not only adds a lasting touch of green to your or your loved one’s space but also aligns with a less disposable ethos. Potted plants and flowers offer a gift that quite literally grows, becoming a lasting part of their home and continuously purifying the air and bringing a piece of nature indoors.
How’s that for an ever-green Valentine’s Day gift idea?
Gift Sustainably Sparkly Jewelry
Traditional jewelry, while often a symbol of luxury and elegance, can carry hidden costs that go beyond your wallet. The industry frequently faces ethical and environmental challenges, including labor exploitation and dangerous conditions in the mines and factories where jewelry is produced.
By choosing sustainable jewelry brands, you’re proving that sustainable Valentine’s Day gift ideas don’t have to be dull and boring.
Catbird crafts its elegantly simple jewelry with over 95% recycled 14k gold and recycled diamonds, ensuring minimal environmental impact and promoting responsible sourcing.
Hand Out Sustainable Valentine’s Day Cards
For a love-inspired craft idea for you or your kids, make your own DIY cards. But, before you reach for stock standard crafting paper, why not explore using eco-friendly alternatives like the homemade, recycled paper by DragonFlyPaperyCo?
Alternatively, FlowerSeedPaper offers an ingenious twist on the classic Valentine’s card. Their cards are made from seed paper, which can be planted post-Valentine’s Day, blossoming into flowers as a beautiful metaphor for love and growth.
Slip Into Some Sustainable & Spicy Lingerie
Who said sustainable can’t also be spicy?
Whether you’re looking to buy sustainable gifts to give on Valentine’s day or already own some and are gifting the, erm, unwrapping part—sustainable lingerie says ‘oo-la-la-love’.
Understatement is all about giving women’s underwear a makeover that’s as kind to the planet as it is empowering. Their bold and sleek designs include lace bralettes, bras, and tops, cheeky briefs, high waisted lace thongs, and even a range of swimwear made of recycled materials from the ocean.
For those who like to dive deeper into comfort, their cozy organic cotton blends for sweatshirts and tees are the perfect match.
My Personal Review of Understatement’s Lace Plunge Bralette & Lace High Waist Briefs:
“If you’re looking to set hearts aflutter without ruffling Mother Nature’s feathers, pair their Lace Plunge Bralette that offers just enough mystery with the Lace High Waist Briefs that are sheer (literally) genius. While I don’t typically wear fancy lingerie, I absolutely love this pairing, which is now my go-to for a special occasion.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
Get Crafty & Creative With Cupid Decor
Get eco-friendly crafty with love this Eco Valentine’s Day by whipping up some DIY decorations that are sure to set the mood without setting back the planet. Embrace the art of upcycling and zero waste and create heartfelt decor from items you already have around the house.
Start by stringing together a garland of love with old book pages or scrap paper—cut out heart shapes and stitch them together with thread for a vintage vibe that reads “romance”.
If you’re feeling a bit more ambitious, fashion a wreath from twigs and branches you find outside. Tie them in a circle with some twine, and voilà, nature’s embrace is now part of your home.
Light up the night with some homemade candles, using beeswax or soy wax for a cleaner burn. You can even set the scene with a constellation of mason jar lanterns, decorated with eco-friendly paint or adorned with ribbons from past gifts.
For the table, craft some charming place settings by repurposing old jars as vases for a bouquet of wildflowers or creating coasters from slices of wood.
Host A Romantic Home Cooked Vegan Dinner
Whip up a wave of romance with a home cooked meal this vegan Valentine’s Day, featuring the freshest picks from your local farmers’ market. Embracing a plant-based menu is a wonderful way to lessen your environmental impact, as vegan dishes have a smaller carbon footprint than their meat-based counterparts.
By choosing local ingredients, you’re not only getting the peak flavors of your region but also reducing the food miles and emissions associated with transportation. Plus, by spreading the love to local farmers, you can help sustain community agriculture and preserves green spaces.
And for the grand finale, why not indulge in a sweet treat like a grain-free vegan berry crumble or chocolate avocado mousse?
Plan Sustainable Date Experiences
For a truly heartfelt green Valentine’s Day, consider date experiences that focus on quality time together rather than material gifts.
Nature itself offers a romantic backdrop that’s both free and freeing. A nature walk along verdant trails or a leisurely bike ride to a picturesque overlook provides an opportunity to connect with each other and the great outdoors. As you walk or cycle, you’re reducing your carbon footprint, encouraging healthy activity, and creating memories that don’t end up in a landfill.
Alternatively, roll up your sleeves and spend the day volunteering at a local community garden. It’s a chance to nurture your relationship while nurturing the earth and your community by contributing to local green spaces and perhaps even learning a thing or two about sustainable gardening practices.
Relax With An Organic Spa Day at Home
For eco-friendly Valentine’s Day ideas that are as much a treat for you as your sweetheart, transform your home into a romantic tranquil oasis with an organic spa day.
Set the mood with dimmed lights (hooray for saving energy!), natural candles, soft music, and perhaps some organic cotton towels for a touch of luxury. Then pamper yourself with organic bath bombs, soaps, and lotions—of course made from natural ingredients and free from harmful chemicals, to nourish the skin but also ensure that your spa day has a minimal environmental footprint.
Say “I Love You” With Secondhand Treasures
Shopping second hand should be a go-to whether it’s a special occasion or not, but on the day of love, it can especially add a timeless and one-of-a-kind touch to your romance with one-of-a-kind gifts that carry the charm of a bygone era.
Whether it’s a classic vinyl record, an ornate piece of jewelry, or a retro home decor item, each find is imbued with a personality that new, mass-produced items simply can’t match.
You’ll decrease waste, dial back on the need for new stuff, and make your carbon footprint as light as a love note, all while dodging the relentless buy-and-discard culture. What better way to show your love is not just a flash in the pan, but a classic in the making?