Source: Inhabitat but taken by Yann Arthus-Bertrand for the Earth from Above series
Around a billion Valentine’s Day cards are sent globally each year – about a quarter of all seasonal cards and then think of all those flowers and boxed chocolates covered in plastic and unrecyclable packaging! (Source here).
A no waste Valentine’s Day could consist of the following:
- Handmade card out of what you can find at home (or a recycled paper card).
- Homemade baking and/or dinner, breakfast or even lunch.
- Only give presents with no, minimal or recyclable packaging or an experience gift like a romantic walk or night in a bed and breakfast.
- Give flowers from the garden – lots of roses still out in flower. And steer clear of any unnecessary packaging or that green oasis which goes straight to landfill. Get the flowers wrapped in plain paper (that can be reused or composted) or biodegradable cellophane.
- Give a hug (no packaging or waste at all!).
- Give a second hand or vintage gift (like vintage jewellery).
- Ensure you compost the flowers once they have died (and check where the flowers are coming from to reduce your impact on the environment).
- Buy fair trade organic chocolate – like Green and Blacks.
- Or the gift that keeps on giving like books (on FSC certified paper) or plants.
- Take your valentine to the new Valentine’s Day movie which has been produced with the environment in mind during production reducing their carbon emissions by 67 tonnes and reusing 350 water bottles instead of 21,000 throw away plastic bottles. Read more about how Warner Brother’s Greened their production here.
Love to know any other ideas that for a green Valentine’s Day.
