Valentine's Day is right around the corner and it is the perfect day to celebrate love in all of it's forms! Whilst we're all hopeless romantics at heart, it is important to be aware of the impact of your celebrations on all important occasions, even Valentine's Day. This wonderful day, whilst full of love, can also be full of excess and waste. So if you're looking for ways to make your romantic celebrations a little more eco-friendly, we have everything you need to know right here.
Sustainable Valentine's Day Gift Ideas
If you're looking for a sustainable, ethical gift that shows how much you care, look no further. Thoughtfully crafted and kind for the planet, this selection of gifts features something for everyone. Here's our top picks of sustainable gifts sure to make your sweetheart swoon.
The Saltworks Company Handmade Natural Perfume
Get ready for a fragrant journey that's all about quality, sustainability, and handmade goodness! At The Saltworks Company, they create each bottle of perfume fresh, one at a time, to ensure minimal waste and maximum scent satisfaction. Their workshop in Ramsgate, Kent is where the magic happens, everything is made by hand in small batches.
Bare Bones Bean-to-Bar Vegan Chocolate
Bare Bones Chocolate is a micro-batch, bean to bar chocolate company based in Glasgow. Their brand is built on incredible chocolate with impeccable detail through every process. They roast their cacao on a modified Giesen coffee roaster and have engineered some of their equipment from scratch, to get the best possible quality for their small batch sizes. They have a great dedicated vegan range, including some wonderful gifting options.
AARVEN Ethical Jewellery
Made from recycled brass, AARVEN's range of handmade jewellery is lovingly designed in their Margate workshop before being brought to life by husband and wife duo, Anton and Benta, in Kenya. As featured in The Times Magazine, The Independent, Oh Comely and Bride Magazine, this collection of show-stopping jewellery is sure to show your special someone how much you care.
Local Seasonal Flowers
Choosing local and seasonal flowers is a great way to make this classic token of love more sustainable. Transporting flowers long distances creates a large carbon footprint. Local flower growers often prioritise native varieties that are well-suited to the local climate and therefore use more eco-friendly growing practises. Plus flowers grown in season are more fragrant, resilient, and long-lasting.
Homemade Gifts
No one knows your valentine better than you, so why not make them a gift they're going to treasure? From edible homemade gifts such as pickles, preverves, cordial or cakes to practical gifts such as bath salts or a foraged bouquet. Making a few gifts for your loved one is a simple way to gift something meaningful and to reduce your environmental impact.
Buy Second Hand
Buying gifts second hand is a fantastic way to reduce waste as well as helping to secure that perfect gift for a little less cash. This is a great option if there is something specific you know that your partner is after (such as a book or pair of shoes). We recommend searching online using marketplaces such as Vinted, eBay, Facebook Marketplace and others. You can also look in local charity shops, you're sure to discover plenty of like-new unwanted possessions being sold for a lot less than the retail price.
Write a Love Letter
A totally free, sustainable and sentimental gift you can give to your valentine is a handwritten love letter. Bonus points for using recycled paper, or paper you already have. You can even make your own paper using recycled scraps and add in things like flower petals to give it a decorative touch.
Sustainable Valentine's Day Activities
Valentine's Day doesn't have to be an occasion demanding elaborate celebrations, multiple gifts, and dramatic romantic gestures. The true essence of Valentine's Day lies in appreciating your loved one and sincerely expressing how much they mean to you. Here are some suggestions for celebrating love in an environmentally conscious and meaningful way.
Learn a New Craft Together
A great way to spend quality time with your love is learning something new together. Get creative and try out a new craft together. There are plenty of craft kits available if you would like some guidance, such as air-dry clay modelling kits, cross stitch embroidery kits and even jewellery making kits. You could also try to follow a DIY tutorial online. Bonus point for using things you already have around the house!
Play a Board Game
You probably have board games lying around at home that you could play together. Have a rummage through your cupboards and bring out a game you haven't played for a while, or pick one of your firm favourites. Don't have any board games at home? Why not visit your local charity shop and choose one together. Or you could even find a board game cafe local to you and enjoy a unique date night.
Go to a Gallery or Museum
Visit a local gallery or museum and immerse yourselves in culture together. Whether you're exploring one of your favourite places to visit or you pick somewhere entirely new, there is nothing more magical than experiencing the joy of an arts institution together.
Visit a Local Restaurant
A classic date night option for a reason, why not switch things up and pick a small, local restaurant this Valentine's Day? Not only will you be supporting the local economy, smaller restaurants also tend to use local produce, meaning less food miles and a smaller carbon footprint. Why not order a planet based meal to really make this the most eco-conscious evening?