Valentines is a time to spoil and adore those that you love - but it’s just as important to spend some time taking care of the environment while you do so. For this reason we have put together this list of the top ten eco Valentine’s ideas, ranging from eco Valentine’s gifts to getaways to date nights.
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A home-cooked meal
Cooking a homemade meal can not only be the perfect surprise for your Valentine, but also a date night! Make your partner's favourite meal and cosy down for the evening. BBC Good Food have some wonderful eco valentines meal ideas, as does My Darling Vegan if you’d like to go the extra mile for the environment and enjoy a plant- based meal.
Ethical jewellery
Treating a loved one to some jewellery is a beautiful way to show them your love. There are several gorgeous ethical jewellery brands, such as Wild Fawn Jewellery and Salt and Wild Jewellery.
Bake together
Baking is a relaxing, bonding activity if you are looking for something to do together this Valentine's. So what are you waiting for? Try this Heart-shaped cake or these cookie pops. You only need a few basic ingredients which you probably already have at home.
Shop on Etsy
Etsy is a wonderful market place to shop at this Valentine’s. They are a company which is powered by 100% renewable energy, they support small artists and often you can find upcycled, reclaimed, recycled and second-hand gifts. They have the most beautiful range of Valentine’s gift ideas, such as this Personalised Couples print, Pottery Starter Kit or these wooden hearts.
A hand-made gift
Creating craft for your loved ones, or doing it with them is another way of celebrating Valentine’s day. There are thousands of ideas online, such as these Felt Heart Pockets or these sweater heart pillows. Making something with your own hands is a very personal gesture and your partner is sure to love it.
If you don’t want to buy lots of craft bits, why not try these paper hearts - all you need is a piece of paper.
Video: 5 easy Valentine’s Day paper crafts to do together by Red Ted Art
Staycation
Do you want to go away but not contribute to flight carbon emissions? Why not have a staycation? You could stay in a hotel an hour down the road or try something fun like an eco retreat. Discover new places near you and make the most of it with your loved one.
Remove your carbon footprints
Turn somebody you love green with this unique eco-friendly gift - a carbon offset for two people. All gift options reduce your and your loved one's carbon footprint to ZERO via a clever combination of tree planting and independently verified climate projects.
Reduce two carbon footprints to zero for 3 months
Plant a mini woodland: 24 trees planted just for you
Personalised digital certificate with both your names & information about the climate solutions you've funded
Make a positive impact this year with a feel good, zero waste, climate-positive gift. Good for you, your loved one, and the planet. This is the biggest positive difference you can make to the climate together, equivalent to planting 1,130 trees every month!
Ditch the wrapping paper
It might make our gifts look beautiful, but wrapping paper creates a lot of waste. If you don’t want to ditch the wrapping paper, why not try these eco friendly and zero waste gift wrapping ideas.
Video: Eco Friendly & Zero Waste Gift Wrapping by My Green Closet
Support local art
This Valentine’s Day, why not visit a local art gallery or theatre, to support your local artists and connect in a meaningful way to your Valentine? Some art exhibitions are free, and you’re also making someone else’s Valentine’s day — spread the love!
If you’re in London, why not head out to one of London’s many art galleries for this year’s Valentine-themed art tour.
Gift a house plant
Not only does a house plant last a lot longer than the traditional flowers - but the right ones can even be purifying for your home. Some scientists have suggested that choosing the right air purifying plants for you can help detoxify the air in your living spaces, meaning your houseplants not only look lovely but work a little harder to clean the air you breathe in.
Examples of purifying house plants are English Ivy, Snake plant or Spider Plant.
These are our top 10 eco Valentine's ideas. What are yours? Let us know on Instagram @zerosmartuk
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