Love is in the air, and what better way to show your significant other how much you love them than by giving a gift that is thoughtful and helps the environment. If you are looking for some ideas that will show your adoration for a special someone, as well as to our planet, we have compiled six eco-friendly gift ideas that might be just right.
Hand soaps are a unique gift that can also help your local community. Many farmers markets and local flea markets have vendors that specialize in handmade, eco-friendly hand soaps with aromas that range from sweet smelling to woodsy. Hand soaps sometimes come in sets that include candles and lotions or are packaged separately to provide a variety of smells. If you want to go a step further, there are many do-it-yourself websites that show how to make your own hand soaps. You could make it yourself and give your valentine a handmade gift or plan a romantic hand soap making session for the two of you.
Plants can be a fun alternative to gifting flowers, and certain plants can even help keep the air around your special someone clean and healthy. Snake plants, peace lilies, lady palms, and golden pothos are indoor plants that filter out contaminants from the air around the house. At night they release oxygen, which makes them ideal for any bedroom. These plants also do well with low light and sparse water, so even the most reluctant gardener can turn their thumb green.
They say the way to someone’s heart is through their stomach, and what better way to do that than by cooking their favorite snack. Baking something that your significant other always craves or absolutely loves shows that not only do you have kitchen skills, you’ve also been thoughtful and paying attention to the small things. However, it does not have to be limited to something sweet. If your special someone likes something salty or savory, find a great recipe and start baking! To make this a fun couples activity, buy all the local ingredients ahead of time and enjoy a night of baking together and eating the desserts afterward. Spending time at home baking can reduce the amount of waste and provide that eco-friendly touch.
Make your Valentine’s Day card stand out by making it yourself. Gather materials from around your home such as markers, construction paper, buttons, fabric scraps, and even old photos. These can make your card truly personalized and affordable. You could also turn this into a great family activity for Valentine’s Day by making a craft day out of it and helping your children make the perfect card for your significant other. Visit the Making Recycled Paper video for step-by-step instructions on how to make recycled paper at home.
Use your keen listening skills to take note of items your special someone needs and look for long-lasting alternatives. For instance, purchase a mug with a bamboo straw to provide a welcome alternative to coffee stops during their commute. You could even get it personalized with a favorite quote or your favorite nicknames. Gifting ceramics or pottery are also good long-lasting alternatives that can be personalized or painted for a specific person.
They say the best gift of all is the gift of time, and we cannot argue with that sentiment. Planning a picnic at a local park, visiting an art gallery, cooking dinner, or watching a movie together can all be great ways to spend this Valentine’s Day. Spending quality time with your loved ones does more than just show them how much you love them, it intensifies the love that you feel for them, too!
The best way to sustainably celebrate Valentine’s Day is to focus on the love that is shared between family, friends, and our planet. When thinking about gift options, consider buying local, creating the gift yourself, or finding and honoring quality time with your loved ones. These are all great options to show love to others and our planet.
