Sustainable Valentine's Day Tips
Valentine’s Day is a time to shower the ones you love with affection, and it’s also the perfect time to be sustainable. Be kind to your Valentine and the environment this February 14 with these sustainable holiday tips.
- Give Valentine’s cards printed on recycled content, and recycle the cards you don’t choose to keep. You can also reduce paper waste by making your own cards from scrap paper or sending cards through email.
- Valentine’s Day is a popular holiday for restaurants. If you’ll be dinning out this year, try restaurants that serve local foods. Those staying in can make their own meals with locally-grown ingredients.
- If you buy gifts, purchase them from local businesses and wrap them with newspapers, brown paper bags, or reused wrapping paper.
- Give homemade Valentine’s treats (like heart-shaped cookies and cakes) in reusable and/or recyclable containers.
- Spend your Valentine’s Day at a park, wildlife reserve, or other natural area. This isn’t just a fun date—you’ll be supporting an establishment that promotes the importance of nature.
- If you’re giving your Valentine flowers, opt for ones that are locally-grown. You can also try alternatives to the traditional bouquet by giving a potted plant, a live bush or shrub, or tree seedlings.
Try incorporating these sustainable practices into other holiday celebrations throughout the year!
Adapted and excerpted from:
S. Egan, “A Green Valentine,” EPA Blog (2/2013).
“A Green Holiday,” UF/IFAS Extension (Accessed 1/2014).
“Show love for the Earth this Valentine’s Day,” SustainVU (2/2012).
“Tips for February Fun Without Waste,” EPA (11/2012).
Related Sites & Articles
- Hot Topics
- Green Holidays
- Holiday Shopping
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- UF/IFAS Publications
- Enviroshopping: Buy Smarter
- Other Sites & Publications
- Green Your Holiday Scene--US EPA
- Save Energy and Resources this Holiday Season--CDC
