“Be my Valentine” - Planet Earth

Our relationship with the planet is the longest one we’ll ever have. However, often by showing our loved ones how we care, the planet can inadvertently become collateral damage.

Whether you have a great connection with Mother Earth, or a mediocre one, there is always room for improvement. And what better day than the Universal Day of Love to make some changes.

This Valentines Day, spread the love a little further and give the planet a big old smooch by making some simple eco switches.

Flowers

Ahhhh the essence of Valentines Day. Australia imported a record 10.5 million rose stems last year for the big day, so it is safe to say that the orignal flower of love is going nowhere anytime soon. In addition to the supply chain of getting the roses to market (pesticides, transport, energy controlled greenhouses), there is also the accompanying life support system made up of plastic wrapped gels, sponges and water packets. The majority of which is not recycled.

Swap: If you are going down the foliage path, consider a living rose or a potted plant. Some plants are a little less maintenance than others, so factor the recipient in when selecting the right plant. If you do go for a bunch of flowers, look for a local, sustainably grown bunch and have them wrapped in brown paper to eliminate any plastic.

Gifts

Second to the plastic wrap on flowers, gifts are the next biggest culprit when it come to generating trash on V-Day.

Swaps: If you are buying gifts consider consumable gifts with zero or recyclable packaging. Also skip wrapping paper and wrap with cloth using Furoshiki.

This is also a day to let your inner DIY light shine! Nothing says “I love you” better than actually taking the time to make/cook/create a gift. Cookies & chocolates are always winners. You can also go down the experiences path, such as a couples massage or tickets to a show. Here are some great ‘non-thing’ gift ideas that I posted for Christmas.

Food

Going out for a nice dinner is a lovely way to celebrate Valentines Day. And whilst dining out is considered to be fairly low waste, there are still some swaps that can help the planet.

Swaps: Use Valentines day as an excuse to find a restaurant that offers locally grown or organic food. Or if you would like to skip the crowds and the inflated expense, stay in and cook your own romantic and zero-waste dinner.

Take your love outside

One of the best ways to appreciate the the planet is to get amongst it. Even If Valentine’s Day doesn’t fall on your day off, postpone it until the weekend and get outside. Whether it’s a hike, a day at the beach or a picnic, spending some quality and distraction free time with the one you love is not only good for the soul, but good for your bank account.

Happy Valentines Day! x