Whether you are celebrating Valentine’s Day with a special someone, or just with a group of friends, the upcoming holiday should be celebrated as eco-friendly as possible. Below are some tips on staying sustainable on this special occasion. 

Have a “staycation” with your significant other

  While it may be tempting to escape off to a romantic resort far away this weekend, a “staycation” much closer to home is far more practical. Not only are you saving money and protecting yourself and others from COVID, but refraining from excessive travel will also help reduce carbon emissions. Websites like Vrbo and Airbnb have low-cost vacation rentals that are only a short drive away. Take a small group of friends or your significant other and get away for the weekend. 

Give them homemade Valentines

  Instead of handing out wasteful paper Valentines, stickers, candy with disposable  wrappers, etc. make a batch of homemade Valentines that are actually functional. There are a variety of homemade gifts to give away that you can easily find with a quick search on Pinterest. An example of this is heart-shaped lotion sticks. These are not only useful—and will be greatly appreciated because of the weather getting colder—but are also easy to make.

  To make the lotion sticks, combine shea butter, beeswax pellets, and coconut oil in a mason jar resting on a washcloth in a saucepan. Put about an inch of water at the bottom of the pan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and stir the ingredients until combined. Remove from heat once they have all been melted. Pour the mixture in heart-shaped molds and add essential oils or fresh rose petals if you choose. Finally, transfer the molds into the refrigerator and wait until it is completely cooled. (Recipe courtesy of Wellness Mama)

Bake with them

  Baking is a great way to spend time with your significant other or friends. It fosters teamwork and creativity with one another.  Making homemade treats is a great way to pass time and leaves you with a tasty treat to indulge in at the end. 

Be conscious about your chocolate

  According to the World Wildlife Fund, Americans consume 58 million pounds of chocolate during the week of Valentine’s Day. 70% of the world’s cocoa beans are grown in West Africa, where climate change has been exponentially boosting and dry spells are quite prolonged. Cocoa trees are quite sensitive to the heat, which is not good for local cocoa farmers. Instead of purchasing the least expensive chocolate from your grocery store, consider purchasing organic, fair-trade, or local chocolate.