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Get eco-friendly tips for Valentines Day cards and gifts.
![The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that 180 million Americans exchanged Valentines Day cards in one recent year alone. [©Jupiter Images, 2009]](/image/400x200/2262_valentines_day_cards.jpg)
It's easier than ever to find environmentally friendly Valentines Day cards and gifts. Green Web sites are full of ideas for innovative Valentines Day cards and gifts as well as traditional Valentines gifts manufactured in an eco-friendly manner. Some research and creativity can help you find the perfect gift for a Valentine who cares about the environment.
Going green for Valentines Day can make a difference in the world. The romantic holiday contributes enormous waste to the environment. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that 180 million Americans exchanged Valentines Day cards in one recent year alone. That's a lot of paper!
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 65 percent of Americans typically exchange Valentines Day cards, so giving eco-friendly cards could result in a significant positive impact on the environment. Half of the millions of cards given for the holiday are purchased just a few days before Valentines Day. Not procrastinating is the first step toward going green. Shopping early allows card-givers time to search for more eco-friendly options.
The Web site Green living tips suggests considering treeless paper such as Kenaf or even coconut husks. Handmade Paper sells many varieties of treeless and recycled paper such as Jute paper, which is made out of industrial waste and fiber strands. Making a card from this kind of paper is a greener alternative to a traditional paper Valentines Day card.
Of course, the most eco-friendly version would be to just send a Web card or even a text message for Valentines Day in lieu of a traditional paper greeting card. However, if you want something your love can hold on to, some Web sites sell recycled cards. Others sell Valentines Day cards made from scrap paper. Green Field Paper sells a unique "Grow-A-Note" greeting card that is embedded with wildflower seeds, so that the card you send can be planted and naturally recycled.
Roses can be toxic to the environment because many are grown in foreign greenhouses that use pesticides. According to Salon.com, 60-80 percent of cut flowers in the United States are imported from Latin America, Africa or Europe. Colombia and Ecuador supply most of the roses sold in the United States on Valentines Day. Each two-pound order contributes six pounds of greenhouse gases to our atmosphere. A better choice is organic flowers or those grown in a local greenhouse.
The San Francisco Chronicle points out that bouquets sold in grocery stores may contain blooms from different countries with variant environmental and labor practices. If possible, purchasing flowers at a farmer's market is a good option, but for those who live in colder climates, online purchases may be the best option, as organic flowers are not always easy to find at traditional florists. Look for flowers with eco labels. One certification system is VeriFlora, which requires practices that are both eco- and labor-friendly.
The New Scientist blog suggests forgetting flowers altogether and giving a tree sapling. The Save Our Environment Action Center, an environmental Web site, reminds gift-givers and receivers that Valentines Day flowers can be composted. So if you must give flowers, dispose of them responsibly.
Purchasing jewelry is not always environmentally friendly. The Green Living Tips Web site says it takes 5 tons of water and 20 tons of mine waste to make a gold ring. Eco-friendly jewelry is now available on the market. Typically, such jewelry is crafted out of shells, glass or recycled metals. Some jewelers certify that their products are ecologically and socially responsible. Several environmental organizations also recommend gifting pre-owned or antique jewelry.
Many Web sites sell environmentally friendly chocolate. Some companies even sell unprocessed chocolate in trash-less bags. Many Web sites sell fair trade chocolates, which are chocolates made from ingredients grown on cooperatives and family farms.
Green America, a non-profit environmental group, compiles Valentines Day ideas from businesses listed in the National Green Pages. Some ideas include gifting eco-friendly clothing and footwear.
The Green Parent suggests natural beeswax candles that are soot and chemical free.
Associated Content recommends forgoing traditional Valentines Day gifts, such as cards, chocolate and jewelry. Instead, they recommend gift-givers make a donation in their loved one's name to a charitable foundation.
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