It might be a holiday created by corporations to sell cards and chocolates, but I have to admit that I love Valentine’s Day. This could have something to do with the fact that it’s also my wedding anniversary, but I’ve loved the frothy pink holiday since I was a kid sending candy grams to my friends. Taking the opportunity to tell people you love them is never a bad thing, and Valentine’s Day is a great reminder of that.
But, for those of us who are concerned with sustainability, all those cards, chocolate wrappers and gift baskets add up to a whole lot of waste. So I put my thinking hat on to come up with some ways we can still enjoy Valentine’s Day, while keeping our eco-conscience clear.
An experience
Valentines’s Day is the perfect day to gift your loved ones with an experience they won’t forget. There are so many wonderful options these days, and you can often find a groupon that makes them quite affordable. A few suggestions would be: a cooking class hosted through your local food bank; a paint night hosted by charity; a skating excursion followed by a steaming cup of hot chocolate at a local coffee shop; or, a spa night so the two of you can kick back and relax. If none of those seem quite right, nothing beats a beautiful candle-lit dinner, at home or at your favourite eatery.
An ebook or audiobook
Physical books are such treasures to me, but to save trees (and money) I’ve determined that I will only own a precious few that are forever favourites. On a weekly basis, I rely on my Libby app so I can get audio and ebooks for free from my local library. But when I have to wait over a month for a sequel or new release from a great author, I start to get a bit antsy. Same with that new season of a show that isn’t on my streaming service yet, tbh. So if a loved one gifted me a shiny new release in digital form, I would be over the moon. Better yet, a subscription to Audible so I could listen to ALL THE BOOKS I WANT (swoon). Which leads me to number three…
A digital subscription
In 2020, there is an app for pretty much everything. My husband and I listen to our tunes on Spotify, watch our preferred shows and movies on Netflix and Prime, and even meditate, practice yoga and fall asleep to the soothing sounds of Calm. Whatever your loved one is into, there is a subscription service for them. One that I have been eyeing lately is Masterclass, where the experts of pretty much everything from makeup to screenwriting teach you their tips. It’s entertaining AND educational, and what could be better than that.
Local goods
The most sustainable way to buy clothes or accessories for your friends and fam is to buy second-hand through Facebook Marketplace, local consignment stores, or even by trading via an app like Bunz. Next to that, local markets are treasure troves of handmade soaps, jewelry and delicacies. I’m partial to the Halifax Seaport Market, and make sure to visit whenever I’m home, but pretty much every town has a weekly farmer’s market. Go out and explore yours!
Fair trade or local blooms
When in doubt, a beautiful bouquet of locally-grown or fair trade flowers is still on-point in 2020. For more on how to ensure your floral gift is ethical, check out this article from World Vision Canada. Bonus—You can ask your florist to wrap your flowers in paper to save on plastic waste!
As for me, come Friday I’ll be enjoying a bath courtesy of a gorgeous package-free bath bomb from Lush, a glass of some Ontario wine and a Facetime call with my sweetheart. Happy Love Day, all!
PS- If you choose to give your special someone chocolate, make sure it’s fair trade and child-labour free! Read this Good Chocolate Guide for more information.
Grace’s Way 