Valentine’s Day is a holiday that celebrates love, romance, and partnership. However, in the age of mass production and consumerism, Valentine’s Day has become a commercial industry harmful to the environment, worth billions and billions of euros. The truth is, you can gift your loved ones on any other day of the year, and you are free to do so every day with small gestures of affection. If you love celebrating Valentine’s Day, do it in a way that makes sense – with gifts that last and don’t pollute the planet.
In addition to millions of roses, balloons, teddy bears, cards, and boxes of chocolates creating large amounts of paper and plastic waste, nothing kills romance like the repetition of the same gifts.
If you’re tired of clichés and creating unnecessary waste that harms the environment, we have the perfect gift list for you.
1. Different style flowers
Instead of short-lived “dead” flowers, you can give something that lives longer and it is healthier. It has been proven that live plants purify and detoxify the air in the rooms. In addition, plants can improve your mood, concentration and memory, as well as reduce stress.
For amateurs, when choosing your first plant, explore which ones are the easiest to maintain (e.g., Tree of Life or Mother-in-Law’s Tongue). And don’t forget, plants need roots to live, just like your love.
And if you still want flowers because your better half doesn’t know much about plants, you can make roses from a cardboard egg carton. All you need to do is cut out the egg cups, stack them on top of each other, and punch a hole in the center for a popsicle stick or something similar. In the end, you can paint everything to create a colorful bouquet.
If you’re not skilled at creating works of art, and neither is your loved one when it comes to keeping plants alive, choose a dried flower bouquet as a gift! Find out which flowers you can dry and how to do it, and give a bouquet of real and everlasting flowers.
2. Natural soap
Shampoos, lotions and perfumes on the shelves of drugstores have many products that contain artificial fragrances, oils, preservatives and various petroleum products harmful to the skin and the environment. Natural soaps should not be an alternative, but your daily routine.
Our recommendation is Silvan natural soap whose ingredients, design and packaging are aimed at promoting sustainability and waste-free life. The packaging of Silvan soap is made of biodegradable paper that you can plant entirely.
3. Natural teas
Is your loved one a tea lover? Then Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity to choose from more than 3,000 types of tea available today. However, try to choose loose-leaf tea, as a 2024 study revealed that brewing tea with a bag made from plastic polypropylene releases about 1.2 billion tiny plastic particles per milliliter of tea! If your partner has never had loose-leaf tea, this is a great opportunity to gift a cute tea infuser.
And if you’re willing to put in a little more effort, explore which plants you can harvest and dry yourself for a gift.
4. Eco friendly bottles
Every minute we buy million plastic bottles of water and soon there will be more of them in the sea than fish.
Therefore, reusable bottles are an environmentally friendly and healthy alternative. In the addition to being more environmentally and your wallet friendly, they help you stay hydrated throughout the day.
We recommend Bioroot products that protect your health, the environment and are a great choice for anyone who wants to live sustainably.
5. Sustainable Clothing
You noticed a scarf in your loved one’s favorite color in a store window, but did you know that this scarf could leave a mark – not just in the closet, but also in the sea?
Some fabrics that we wear do serious damage to animals and our planet. Recent research shows that polyester, when washed, releases thousands of tiny plastic microfibers that end up in the sea where animals can swallow them. This means that, if you eat sea animals, you are consuming tiny pieces of plastic that came from our clothes.
To achieve a “more sustainable wardrobe”, buy more environmentally friendly fabrics such as organic cotton, linen or hemp.
6. Eco cosmetics
Cosmetics can also be more environmentally friendly. So, choose products that are packaged in reusable containers, produced locally and not tested on animals. For your loved ones who enjoy cosmetics and self-care, choose products that, for example, come in glass or other reusable packaging.
Avoid all single-use products. Did you know that single-use plastic razors actually cost us a lot due to their disposability? A good financial investment is a stainless steel razor that will literally last forever, and besides that, it looks great in your bathroom.
Whenever possible, always use and encourage reusable solutions. For example, at dm, you can refill reusable shampoo and detergent bottles. In pharmacies, some products also offer refill services.
By shopping responsibly, choose manufacturers who implement sustainable practices in their businesses. You can, for example, choose cosmetics that are certified free of microplastics and made from natural ingredients. Pay attention to the eco-labels on products.
Don’t forget that transportation routes also play a big role in the sustainability of a product, so always choose products that are part of short supply chains. Keep in mind that what is locally produced usually contains local raw materials and is made in accordance with the indigenous values of the area.
Final tips for a romantic and eco-friendly Valentine’s day
And finally, ditch the gift wrap. Most of it actually can’t be recycled and contains harmful plastic layers. Try one of the alternatives: fabric bags, jars, baskets, or reuse the wrapping paper and bags you received your gifts in.
If the weather is nice over the weekend, you can go on a picnic in nature with your loved ones, completely free of charge. Don’t forget to bring something to eat and drink, a blanket, and make sure you do not produce or leave any waste behind. And most importantly, love each other a lot!