I am SUPER excited for Valentine's day this year, I'm not quite sure why, but I'm excited! Valentine's day will also be 2 years since Tyler asked me to be his girlfriend 🥺 I can't believe it's already been 2 years but at the same time it feels like forever.
I'm excited to share with you five ways that you can make YOUR Valentine's day more eco friendly and intentional.
#1 - Decorations
I feel like decor is one of the biggest culprits of waste when it comes to Valentine's Day - but it doesn't have to be! Thrift stores have SO SO much holiday decor. I'm not going to lie, not all of it is winners and you may have to sort through it a bit, but you can find some gold! (okay maybe not literally, but if you do find gold, let me know because that would be way cool.)
Another fun thing you can do is DIY and make your own decorations. Channel your craftiness, get out all your supplies, and make something awesome!
No matter how you source your decorations, whether it's one of the ideas above or it's from a normal store, make sure you are getting decor that you see yourself reusing for Valentine's Days to come or other holidays/events. Even if you get eco decorations, it doesn't matter if you just discard them right after. Get things that will last and that you can see yourself loving for a long time!!
#2 - Cards
This year, I had the most random Valentine's idea (which is one of the main reasons I'm so excited). I decided to thrift vintagey and unique cards to send to some of my friends and family. I haven't had as much luck finding cards at bigger, chain thrifts stores, but the smaller ones have so many great ones! This can be a fun way to be creative and eco this Valentine's Day.
You can also make some homemade cards with craft supplies you already have. Make sure you're careful with what supplies you use though! Did you know that glitter is made out of micro-plastics and is not so great for the environment? Thankfully, I have some good news - you can buy eco glitter instead! There are lots of other fun creative and eco cards you can buy online, like these plantable greeting cards, that have wildflower seeds in them that the recipient can plant after they get your message!
#3 - Chocolate & Candies
Okay, I feel like chocolates are what you get as a 'grown up' for Valentine's Day but when you're a kid you get a mix of allll the types of candy. Isn't that kind of interesting? Chocolate is the most ✨mature✨ candy I guess. But unfortunately, both chocolates and candies alike have packaging that creates waste. Opt for candy and chocolate without unnecessary packaging when you can.
And unfortunately, not all chocolate is even made ethically. I haven't really talked about the ethical sides of things, just the environmental, but as I learn more and more I have realized how intertwined they are. Sadly, a lot of chocolate companies have been found out to use child labor in other countries. To find a list of ethically made chocolates, check out Fair Trade. While this list doesn't include every ethically made chocolate, it is a great place to start.
#4 - Flowers
I love flowers and think they make a beautiful gift! Here are a few tips or alternatives to make them an even more eco friendly option:
- Definitely compost your flowers instead of tossing them in the trash :)
- Instead of buying a bouquet, you can buy a whole plant that lasts longer! Tyler did this for me a couple months ago, and we still have the flower plant in our living room and I love it!
- When buying flowers choose to buy locally grown flowers. This is eco friendly because you're eliminating the waste created when importing flowers.
- Going along with that, buy the flowers that are currently in season! This might vary slightly depending on where you are located, but here is a guide to what flowers are in season and when.
#5 - Other Thoughtful Gifts
We can't avoid waste completely when giving gifts, but we can definitely choose gifts that have less single-use plastics or waste. Think consumable gifts or items that are long lasting. You could gift homemade baked goods or a reusable candle (check out this one from Notes that's pretty cool). Want more ideas and tips for giving intentionally? Check out my gift guide here.
Holidays are so fun, but it's important that we are mindful in our gifting and celebrations. I'd love to hear any intentional or eco-friendly things your incorporating into your Valentine's Day this year!
XOXO,
Kirsten
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