Make it an Eco-Friendly Valentine’s Day
Aaaahh, Valentine’s Day. While the holiday may be all about love and appreciation for your loved ones, it is not a holiday in which love for the planet generally comes to mind. But there is a way to fix that! I’m just going to give you a few really important Valentine’s Day DON’Ts first then focus on the DOs and all the fun and sustainable stuff that can be done and gifted for Valentine’s Day!
DON’Ts
Please do not gift balloons. If you must gift balloons, avoid filling them with helium and definitely don’t release them, ever. Released balloons go up and return to earth as harmful litter. If would like some sustainable alternative ideas instead of balloons, do visit preventballoonlitter.org.
Do not buy chocolate that comes from unsustainable sources. Sadly, the chocolate industry is riddled with child labor, income inequality, and deforestation.
Do not buy cut flowers that come from outside of the country. The carbon footprint created by transporting cut flowers, especially in the weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day is staggering.
Ok, now that that’s out of the way, the fun stuff!!
DO’s
Chose Fair Trade certified, organic, vegan and/or plastic-free chocolate. Most importantly, make sure your chocolate is coming from a company that pays farmers fairly for their crops (or is owned by the farmers) and is not supporting child labor or deforestation. When you know your chocolate is being made sustainably, throughout the supply chain, it just tastes better!
Gift locally grown flowers or native plants. Rather than cut flowers, gift a plant that will last in a pot or that can be replanted outside in the spring. You could even create a potted mini-pollinator garden that will attract butterflies, bees and hummingbirds in the warmer months ahead. Succulents are also an excellent option if you can find someone growing them locally.
If you are going to go out to dinner, choose a green, locally-owned restaurant. Here in Virginia, there are certifications such as a Virginia Green, Pearl Business or Ocean-Friendly Restaurants that make it easy to find a restaurant that is recycling, composting, saving energy and skipping single-use plastics. If you want to get really eco, try out a vegan meal! If you choose to indulge in some adult beverages, choose local craft beer, organic wines or locally distilled spirits. It’s not only about supporting local, but also about reducing your carbon footprint by choosing options that didn’t have to travel far to get to your table.
Support local crafters for soaps, candles, jewelry, handmade cards, etc. Some of our favorite soap makers either use no packaging or a small amount of paper. Buy candles that are in upcycled or glass containers. Support local bakers for sweet treats like this amazing vegan cake made by My Vegan Sweet Tooth. And visit your local farmers for ingredients for your homemade Valentine’s Day dinner. It’s a slow time of year for many of these small businesses, so give them a boost and impress your Valentine with your taste for local goodies! Don’t forget to bring your own bags and containers when shopping!
Symbolically adopt an animal to support a non-profit that is working on conservation issues. From whales to pandas, your Valentine can be the proud adoptive parent and supporter of an endangered or threatened species. Donate to your local shelter to cover the adoption cost for a homeless animals. And if you and your Valentine have plans to add a furry friend to the family, please adopt, the shelters are full of animals of all breeds, ages and sizes (petfinder.com is an excellent resource). National Marine Life Center even has a fun fundraiser where you can name a parasite after your Ex for Valentine’s Day.
Get outside!
Go for a walk in a City, State or National park. Visit a park you’ve never been to before and enjoy exploring something new with your Valentine.
If you are in or near Virginia Beach, go whale watching. Sightings have been amazing this season and this will be a trip your Valentine will never forget. This image of a heart-shaped blow was taken by Ocean Art by Stephanie during a trip with Rudee Tours. Rudee Tours will have lots of trips on Valentine’s Day and the weekend before, including sunset cruises, so get on a boat and learn about these amazing animals with the one you love.
Finally, we have created some fun and eco-friendly gift sets for you or your Valentine. Don’t worry, they’ll be available year round, but hey, who wouldn’t want one of these gift sets for Valentine’s Day?? There are lots of eco-friendly gifts to choose from at ecomaniaccompany.com. Shop online between now and February 14th and receive 14% off your entire order! Use the code ECOVALENTINE22.
And if you’re local, we’ll be at The Shack on Sunday, February 13th from 11-3 for their Local Love event. Mention the code above and I’ll give you 14% off at the Local Love event too! Happy Valentine’s Day to you and thank you for choosing to Shop Like You Love the Planet!
