5 Ideas for a Plastic-free Valentine's

5 ideas for a Plastic-free Valentine's. Seas & Straws

Valentine’s day is a personal favorite; a time dedicated to expressing love and appreciation to the special people in our lives. But, it’s easy to get swept up in our consumerist culture and emphasize material possessions over expressing our love.  As we celebrate this holiday of hearts, it's important to consider the impact our actions have on the environment our loved ones live in. By making these simple changes, we can show love not just to our significant others, but also to our planet. Here are some tips for celebrating a plastic-free Valentine's Day:

1. Give Experiences Instead of Gifts

Instead of giving gifts wrapped in plastic packaging, give your loved one an experience they'll never forget - it’s also a great way to spend more time together and reflect on how your relationship is going. This could be a romantic dinner, a concert, a weekend getaway, or any other activity that the two of you can enjoy together.

Gift your love one a memorable experience instead of a generic gift from the store.

2. Choose Eco-Friendly Flowers

Fresh flowers are a staple for Valentine's Day, but traditional florists often wrap them in plastic. Not only that, most mega shopping centers ship their flowers across long distances-resulting in a major carbon footprint. Instead of going for the traditional vendor, consider purchasing flowers from a local farmer's market or a florist that uses biodegradable wrapping materials. You could even go the extra mile and start preparing for next year with your own flower garden! There’s nothing better than freshly plucked flowers cared for by your loved one.

Choose flowers wrapped in paper - or pluck them from your own garden.

3. Make Your Own Cards

Valentine’s day cards are a must for many. It’s a cute, simple way to start the day, but often ends up being tossed out at the end of the night. If you opt for cards, instead of buying store-bought cards that are often packaged in plastic, make your own cards using recycled paper. Not only will you be reducing your plastic waste, but you'll also be adding a personal touch to the occasion.

Making your own card is easy, fun nad personal. Alternatively, look for plantable seed card like this one on etsy.

4. Opt for Reusables

As with one-day celebrations, we tend to focus on making things as convenient as possible-often at the cost of the environment. With a little planning though, you can skip this.

• If you're going out for a special dinner or to do some shopping, use reusable bags instead of disposable plastic bags. 
• If you're planning a romantic dinner at home, use reusable dinnerware instead of disposable plates and utensils.
• If you're going on a romantic hike or picnic, bring along reusable water bottles instead of buying plastic bottled water.

Not only will this reduce your plastic waste, but it will also help to reduce the amount of single-use plastic in the environment.

Wine or sparkling tastes much better in a stylish glass.

5. Cook a Home-Cooked Meal

Ordering food hurts the planet in multiple ways including the carbon emissions in transport and the plastic waste in packaging. A plastic-free Valentine's day is easy to achieve when you  choose to cook a home-cooked meal together. It’s a wonderful way to spend quality time with your loved ones, and even sharpen those chef skills. Additionally, this not only saves you money, but it also reduces the amount of plastic waste generated on this holiday alone.

Cooking your favorite meal together is the ultimate romantic gesture

Looking for more inspiration for a plastic-free Valentin's day? Check out this post as well.

How are you planning to celebrate this Valentine’s? Share with me on Instagram!