The truth

Love is gentle. It’s generous, forgiving and thoughtful. That’s what most of us want anyway. And it’s also what we love to believe we do – share our love in a way that makes our family and friends feel cared for. It’s wonderful to express love and Valentine’s Day explodes in popularity as every year goes by. But so does overconsumption.

Valentine’s day contributes to huge amounts of pollution and waste, in fact, this day alone has an increase of approximately 9 million kilograms of carbon dioxide. And that’s on top of everything else that’s normally released into the atmosphere. Not to mention the cards that end up in landfill because they can’t be recycled. The gifts we give impact the world we live in. Let me give you some examples.

Cut flowers are a huge culprit – they’re usually grown in greenhouses using natural gas, and imported from around the world. This releases thousands of kilograms of CO2 into the atmosphere as well.

Valentine’s day is also notorious for creating lots of plastic waste. Like a lot of holiday, let’s be honest. Balloons, flowers, cards and chocolates use excess amounts of plastic that are usually impossible to recycle, and take 100 to 500 years to decompose. Microplastics like glitter can take even longer.

Let’s use our imagination

Valentine’s day doesn’t have to be as unloving to the planet and our ecosystems as we think. There are plenty of wonderful ways we can celebrate the day, with sustainability in mind; sometimes we have to be a bit imaginative. Keep reading to see the list.

Below are some thoughtful and sustainable gift ideas that you could share with your loved ones, whether that’s a friend, a parent, or your other half:

Soy or beeswax candles: These candles are made from natural beeswax and are a great alternative to traditional paraffin wax candles which are made from petroleum oil. When paraffin candles are burned, they can release dangerous pollutants into the air, including benzene and toluene which are known carcinogens.

A herb or vegetable garden. So it doesn’t have to be an entire garden, but how about getting your loved one a gift that keeps on giving? Herbs and vegetables are ideal for anyone, and if they don’t have a garden, there are plenty of indoor varieties, like basil or tomatoes, that thrive inside.

A love letter. I believe this should be a given anyway, as part of any gift. Expressing your love with a hand written letter is intimate, personal and a keepsake for whoever receives it. You can add a note to a book, or spill your hear out on biodegradable or seed paper. You can go the extra mile by attempting a poem too.

A weekend away. Make new memories with the people you love by visiting a new place for a day or two. You don’t have to go far either, have a look at nearby beaches, forests or towns and plan what you want to see. Go by train or bus to add to the adventure, and if you don’t plan on staying overnight, stay out as late as you can.

A donation to a conservation or environmental organization in the recipient’s name is a kind and noble gesture. Whether it’s to plant trees, build a well or support a family for a year, donating to a humanitarian cause spreads love throughout the world.

A picnic. Nothing says ‘I love you’ like good food. Find a basket or box to fill with homemade treats and your favourite treats and snacks. If the weather isn’t good, or being outdoors isn’t something you like, then have a picnic indoors. Make a meal from scratch together, sit on the living room floor and enjoy each other’s company.

Wildflowers. If you’re really desperate to give flowers, or you know your loved one wants flowers, then a better option is to find local florals that are in season. If there’s a public park nearby you could also cut a few stems to give. If you do end up going to a shop, try a smaller florist and ask them not to use plastic to wrap them.

A spa day. Instead of booking a spa day at a hotel or spa centre, why not create a spa day at home? Surprise the ones you love with masseuse skills and give them a relaxing way to destress. You can find lots of natural essential oils if that’s what you prefer, but coconut or olive oil are perfect alternatives filled with moisturising goodness.

It’s important to be more sustainable when giving gifts because our actions, no matter how small, have a significant impact on our world. By choosing eco-friendly gifts, we can reduce waste, conserve resources, and help protect the planet for future generations.

What are some other Valentine’s day gifts that are better for the planet? Are you going to give a more thoughtful gift this year?

Follow us on Instagram and tag us in your posts.