Treating your other half to sustainable Valentine’s loving!
Q: Is there any way for me and my other half to celebrate Valentine’s Day sustainably? A: Of course, you can still show your love while being conscious of the planet. As with every spending decision you make, there are lots of green options. Here are some ideas:
Flowers
A bouquet often comes with a huge carbon footprint, partly because most flowers are flown in from overseas. According to government statistics, the UK market for cut flowers is worth £1.3 billion. Around 90 per cent are imported. Most come from The Netherlands – although a number of other countries are increasingly exporting flowers, like Ecuador, Colombia, Kenya and Ethiopia.
As well as all these unnecessary air miles, many imported flowers are intensively farmed using toxic pesticides and artificial fertilisers. Such chemicals are bad for the soil and harm essential pollinators, like bees. Industrially-farmed flowers also require lots of water, a bad idea in countries where it can be scarce.
In light of these issues, some UK florists are now offering more sustainable bouquets.
Look out for Florverde, an independent, environmental mark for the flower trade. Flowers from the Farm is a network of British growers of locallygrown, seasonal flowers. Find details of your nearest recommended florist on its website.
Alternatively, you could give your partner a living plant or
donate to a reforestation project on their behalf.
Chocolates
What would Valentine’s Day be without chocolate? Unfortunately, its popularity comes with an environmental cost. The global demand for cocoa beans means that large areas of west African rainforest are being cleared to grow them. This is terrible news for the world’s climate – and local elephant, monkey and chimpanzee populations.
Thankfully, you can still give your beloved a decadent sweet treat. Eco-friendly options include premium brands like Beyond Good, which works directly with farmers in Madagascar, or Ocelot, with its ethically-sourced chocolate and compostable packaging. Hotel Chocolat aims to be net zero by 2030 and grows a lot of its cocoa on its own organic, eco-friendly farm in St. Lucia.
Wine
Most of the wine we drink is the result of industrial farming practices that heavily rely on artificial fertilisers and pesticides and use vast amounts of water. An increasing number of affordable sustainable alternatives are becoming available.
Sea Change helps fund ocean conservation projects with the sales of its European wines. Available from Tesco, Cono Sur wines are made in a carbon neutral production facility powered by renewable energy. On the high street, Aldi offers a range of organic wines, including a £7.49 Prosecco. Organic wines also help with avoiding hangovers – apparently!