Eco-Friendly Valentine’s Day Ideas: The Ultimate Guide for 2019

1. Valentine’s Day Cards

Valentine’s Day cards first became popular in the early 19th century, when amorous admirers began sending handwritten notes in the hope of wooing the stuffy Victorian object of their desire. As printing technology improved, these oft elaborate confections of lace and ribbon gave way to mass-produced greetings cards—and a booming new industry was born. Today, it’s reckoned we send hundreds of millions of valentines annually, making Valentine’s Day one of the world’s biggest card-sending holidays—second only to Christmas.

But what’s the true cost of all this paper-based lovemaking? Well, for starters it requires chopping down lots and lots of trees. Indeed, according to this infographic, the UK greeting card industry calls ‘TIMBER!’ on over half a million trees per year. Granted that figure covers all cards produced, not just valentines, but we can still deduce that a significant number of trees are felled as a result of Valentine’s Day worldwide.

Why does this matter? Well, trees support diverse ecosystems and convert troublesome carbon dioxide into delicious oxygen we can breathe. Fewer trees spells bad news in general, and unsustainable logging in particular is responsible for widespread environmental damage.

The story doesn’t end with trees either. Paper manufacturing can be a messy business too, and then there’s the carbon cost of packaging and shipping to consider. Once received, how many heartfelt declarations are carelessly tossed trashwards, bound for landfill? How many card retailers keep their lights on at night? How many sweethearts scribble saccharine sonnets in disposable plastic ballpoint?

As with many things, the more closely you examine the Valentine’s card tradition, the more environmental concerns begin to spiral. Naturally, we can’t allow this kind of thinking to get out of hand—lest we resign ourselves to sitting still in the woods, eating fallen berries and apologising for our own farts—but it’s still something to bear in mind. In the case of Valentine’s Day cards, we might ask, are they worth it? Are there not greener alternatives which serve the same purpose?

More on that later.

2. Valentine’s Day Chocolates

Ah, chocolate. Let’s just take a moment to think about it *eyes glaze over*. Those randy Aztecs were the first to recognise it’s aphrodisiac qualities, but then again, it was always destined to be the food of love—it melts at body temperature, for goodness sake! Nevertheless, chocolate didn’t become a real Valentine’s favourite until 1868, when Cadbury introduced their heart-shaped Fancy Boxes specially for the occasion. These proved an instant hit back then, and today, over 36 million similar boxes are sold in the US every year.

Now, you know that phrase, ‘pick your battles’? Well, eager environmentalists would do well to remember it before taking aim at something as much beloved as chocolate. I mean, if anything’s going to turn people off a cause, it’s a beardy fun-sponge hectoring them over a bar of Galaxy.

In the interest of thoroughness, however, we must now adopt the role of said hairy interloper and discuss what harm—if any—our craving for chocolate does the planet. Here goes…

• Most cocoa is cultivated in equatorial regions with humid climates. An estimated 70% comes from West African countries, like Ghana and the Ivory Coast. Here, the industry is responsible for the majority of illegal deforestation and frequently employs children in hazardous labour conditions.

• After travelling many miles, cocoa is blended with other ingredients to produce chocolate. These can include milk powder, a product of the global dairy industry which contributes approximately 4% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions; sugar, water-intensive and heavily dependent on potentially harmful agrochemicals; and palm oil, the production of which threatens rainforest biodiversity and the habitats of species like orangutans.

• According to a study published by The University of Manchester, it takes a thousand litres of water to make a single chocolate bar. What’s more, all in all, the UK chocolate industry produces around 2.1 million tonnes of GHGs per year. That’s about the same output as a city the size of Belfast.

Blimey.

If that’s enough to make you think twice about showering your loved one with rich, delicious chocolate, don’t worry—we’ve a few tips for making more ethical choices later on.

3. Valentine’s Day Flowers

In Greek mythology, the rose is associated with Aphrodite, the goddess of love. In one tale, a rosebush grows from her tears when they mix with the blood of her slain lover Adonis. Since then, the flower has remained an enduring symbol of romantic love, and it’s by far the most popular choice come February 14th.

Once again, the Victorians were responsible for popularising the tradition. During an era well known for its stifling conservative values and strict social etiquette, the exchange of flowers became an acceptable way of expressing one’s feelings. People took great interest in the ‘language of flowers, or floriography, and arranged complex bouquets to communicate the depth and nuance of their affection. The red rose, naturally, indicated passionate or true love.

Fast forward to the present day, and love-struck shoppers buy hundreds of millions of cut roses every year. This represents a significant slice of a global floral industry worth over a hundred billion US dollars. Not bad, eh?

However—as the band Poison are at pains to point out—every rose has its thorn, and though you mightn’t think it, the production and export of cut flowers can have severe consequences for the environment. For example, most roses in the US are imported from Latin America, where they’re sprayed with toxic pesticides and herbicides. Many of these chemicals are banned in the US and Europe, due to their negative effect on local air, soil and water conditions. In countries like Kenya and Ethiopia, where water can be a scarce resource, the flower industry also places a strain on local supplies.

Once your Valentine’s rose is harvested, things only get worse. In order to reach consumers in peak condition, they’re stored and transported under refrigeration at huge carbon cost. They’re often then packaged in non-recyclable plastic film and displayed in brightly lit, chilled cases. Even after you’ve thrown your by now rather sad-looking bouquet out, the flowers continue to emit methane into the atmosphere as they decay.

So, though roses may be red, and violets may be blue, it appears neither are very green. Fear not, however—you’ll find some sweet-smelling tips for choosing eco-friendlier (we’re going with it) blooms below.

4. Valentine’s Day Jewellery

Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, as the old song goes, and on Valentine’s Day, millions hope to receive something sparkly from their bonny beau. In 2017, UK consumers spent over a hundred million pounds on Valentine’s jewellery—safe in the knowledge that precious metals remain a surefire way to a person’s heart.

But what does our magpie-like attraction to shiny things mean for Mother Nature? Where do the diamonds and gold we prize come from? And at what cost? Well, as you may have guessed by now, it ain’t always a pretty picture…

• Globally, the diamond industry is responsible for burping out over 7 million tons of greenhouse emissions annually.

• Diamonds are notoriously hard to trace to their source.The trade of so-called conflict diamonds funds violence in central and western Africa, and while the Kimberley Process aims to prevent these stones from entering the supply chain, it does little to combat unethical working conditions and environmental degradation.

• In countries like Angola and Sierra Leone, irresponsible diamond mining has devastated entire landscapes. Deforestation and soil erosion damage wildlife populations while reducing the amount of arable land for farmers. Abandoned mining pits then fill with stagnant water, providing a breeding ground for malaria-carrying mosquitoes.

• Things get even worse when you look into gold. So-called ‘dirty gold’ floods the market and comes from open pit mines, where toxic chemicals are used to extract the metal from the displaced earth. The resultant waste, laden with cyanide and mercury, contaminates local water bodies and poisons ecosystems. When long-buried iron sulphides are exposed to air, a chemical reaction can produce sulphuric acid (remember science class? Nasty) which drains into streams and rivers.

Oh dear, it seems like all that glisters is not gold when it comes to the environment. Happily, however, we’ve a few jewellery ideas below to keep everyone happy this Valentine’s Day—whether you’re a scruffy eco-warrior or the late, great Liz Taylor.

5. Valentine’s Day Fizz

For many of us, Valentine’s Day comes around at just the right time—a time when Christmas festivities are already a distant memory and the dismal British winter feels likely to go on and on and on. February 14th is a welcome opportunity to celebrate—and, for the discerning (and not-so discerning) boozers out there, that calls for a bottle of bubbly.

Of course, there was a time when that meant champagne, but these days, Brits are just as, if not more, likely to opt for its cash-strapped and oft embarrassing cousin, prosecco. Indeed, the Italian sparkling wine has ridden a wave of popularity in recent years, as desperate partygoers attempt to fill the void and block out the noise for under a tenner.

In our present-day dystopia, it’s always prosecco o’clock, and demand for the drink has never been higher. Our insatiable thirst has been a boon to the Veneto region of Italy where prosecco’s produced, but it’s not without its drawbacks either. Vineyards have been forced to expand to keep up, which has led to deforestation and soil erosion in some places. Worse still, mass production methods—including the use of industrial pesticides and herbicides—reduce biodiversity, pollute the air locals breathe and taint the final product.

Fortunately, however, it doesn’t have to be like this. Eco-friendly organic and biodynamic wines are on the rise, as drinkers look to drown their sorrows with a clearer conscience. Often, it’s a matter of just a few extra quid.

Bringing a bottle this Valentine’s Day? Check out our advice for making more ethical choices at the off license, below.

6. Valentine’s Day Dinner

For reasons unbeknownst to us, some couples still consider a candlelit dinner an acceptable date night. We suppose they think it’s like a film—one in which the picture-perfect pair engage in sexually suggestive repartee while their food congeals untasted on the plate.

The reality of dining out is very different. Without the benefit of editing, your evening together is one long, interminable slog. Your partner is a disgusting pig. Lit from below like the monster from a Hammer horror, they chew their food with mouth agape and jealously guard the chips. Under the laser-beam spotlight of expectation, conversation dries up, passion withers, ‘til you’re both left smiling dumbly at passing waiters—imploring for more bread, or a fire alarm.

On Valentine’s Day, this gloomy scene will play out in restaurants the length and breadth of the country. After all, some people never learn.

Unsurprisingly, however, there will also be those who elect to stay in. These are the ones with sense, who recognise that two lovers were never meant to eat face to face. The television is their friend—a faithful third wheel to keep things going while mouths are otherwise engaged.

According to this infographic, steak and chips is the most popular meal for said Valentine’s stay-ins. But of course—what says ‘I love you’ more than a hefty slab of desiccated animal flesh? Our caveman ancestors knew it, and so do we.

One thing those mammoth-bothering knuckle-draggers probably couldn’t conceive of, however, is modern industrial farming and its catastrophic impact on our environment. Look a little further into the meat and dairy industry (if you dare), and you’ll discover some pretty troubling statistics. Did you know, for example, that factory farming is one of the world’s biggest greenhouse gas contributors? Or that over a quarter of the planet’s ice-free land is given over to livestock?

According to scientists, reducing meat and dairy intake is the simplest way to minimise an individual’s impact on Earth, so whether you’re dining in or out this Valentine’s Day, why not go steak-free? We’ve links to some alternative romantic supper recipes in a bit.

7. Valentine’s Day Shopping

Isn’t online shopping awesome? Think about it—in just a few clicks, you can now buy pretty much anything, and have it delivered direct to your door. It’s a technological/logistical miracle that allows us to shop to our heart’s content, without abandoning the comfort of our wine-stained and crumb-strewn beds. Misanthropes and agoraphobes alike rejoice!

These days, more and more of us are forsaking the high street in favour of online convenience—and Valentine’s gift shoppers are no exception. Before we all jump aboard the cyber bandwagon, however, let’s take a moment to consider the environmental pros and cons of internet shopping. Is it really worth it?

Well, let’s start with the theoretical pros. If ten neighbours each purchase The Little Book of Karma Sutra from the same online seller, the books will be delivered by a single delivery van—that is, provided everyone decides to spice things up at the same time. Alternatively, they could all drive their gas-guzzling 4x4s into the heavily congested town centre to visit a local book shop. Naturally, a single van making multiple stops produces fewer emissions than ten Chelsea tractors. Awesome, right?

Then again, our online shopping habits are rarely so efficient. We buy things sporadically and demand shorter and shorter delivery times. That means more delivery vehicles on the road and more setting off half empty. These vans and trucks are typically less fuel efficient than the average family motor, and they’ve been linked to increased levels of air pollution and congestion in residential areas.

And then there’s all the extra packaging. How often have you ordered a small item online, only for it to arrive in a box better suited to a fridge freezer? At least cardboard is fairly easy to recycle—polystyrene peanuts and plastic wrapping will hang around in landfill for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. In the oceans, plastic packaging waste poisons fragile marine ecosystems and threatens everything from the ugliest bottom feeder to the cutest baby dolphin or sea turtle.

Is this a price worth paying for convenience? If not, you’ll find some solid advice for forming greener shopping habits, below.

8. Valentine’s Day Waste

Ask a cynic what they think of Valentine’s Day, and they’ll probably tell you it’s a sham holiday dreamed up by greedy capitalists to sell heart-shaped tat to unsuspecting sheeple. Meanwhile, their other half will look on wearily, questioning why they ever yoked themselves to such a meanspirited, insufferable killjoy.

People like heart-shaped tat.

Still, consumption for consumption's sake is never a good idea, and around Valentine’s Day, some people can feel pressured into making purchases they otherwise wouldn’t. We’re led to believe that things are what matter, and when it comes to romance, any gift—even one they don’t really want or need—is better than no gift.

Ultimately, however, this sort of giving pleases no one, while compounding all of the above by virtue of its pointlessness. These days, it’s almost impossible to avoid certain environmental pitfalls (remember our flatulent friend in the woods?), but we should still aim for greater value. Consider what we get in return for our investment—if a gift brings joy to the recipient, does it justify its carbon footprint? An unwanted gift clearly doesn’t.

Being a more responsible, eco-minded gift shopper is all about making these small calculations—weighing up the environmental cost with the emotional return. None of us are perfect (even vegans), but if everyone were to take a more mindful approach to Valentine’s Day giving, it’d be a greener holiday all round.

On that note, let’s move on to some top tips for choosing eco-friendly Valentine’s Day gifts. What follows is our best attempt to greenify February 14th and assuage our guilt, without compromising on romance.

Sure, there are people out there who might appreciate your homemade bracelet woven from bracken and barbershop sweepings, but probably not the ones you fancy. Just ‘cause something’s sustainable doesn’t mean it’s any good, so we’ve tried our best to be objective. We asked ourselves, ‘Would we still be happy receiving this gift, even if we didn’t give a toss for global warming?’, and we’re pretty pleased with what we came up with.

Here goes…

1. Valentine’s Day E-cards

Instead of a traditional paper valentine, why not send your crush an e-card this Valentine’s Day? It’s the 21st century, after all, and electronic greetings are kinder to trees and better for the environment as a whole.

Sure, the Victorians may have treasured their kitsch little creations, but how many of us—honestly—have held on to all the cards we’ve received? Not us, that’s for sure. Ours sit on the mantlepiece ‘til the next dusting (2-6 months should do it), at which point they’re tossed out with only the slightest twinge of regret.

Of course, other people are more sentimental. They hang on to every scrap of heart-shaped confetti, until a film crew arrive, and they’re forced to confront their demons on an episode of Britain’s Biggest Hoarders.

Still, crackpots aside, and in light of what we learnt earlier, the fact remains that mass-produced paper greeting cards are now woefully outdated. In our disposable, computer-driven age, the e-card represents a greener alternative for the future.

E-cards are typically sent via email and can take the form of an image, animation, meme or game. Simple cards are available to download for free, whereas more elaborate designs incorporating personalised text and/or photos can be obtained for a small fee.

There are loads of e-card sites with a whole variety of Valentine’s designs to choose from. Listing all of them would take all day, so here are just a few of our favourites:

JibJab — JibJab offers fun Valentine’s Day e-cards that can be personalised to include a portrait of you and/or your other half. Picture your face/s on the shoulders of Danny Zuko and Sandy, Sonny and Cher, Rick Astley, Robert Palmer, and many more!

DontSendMeACard.com — DontSendMeACard.com allows you send e-cards while making a charitable donation equivalent to the cost of posting traditional paper cards. Their range of Valentine’s Day designs is quite limited, but hey, it’s for a good cause.

Someecards — Head to Someecards for some of the very best Valentine’s Day e-cards and memes—perfect for couples who share an ironic sense of humour. They’re free to use, so get copying and pasting now!

Naturally, all this will take some getting used to. Luddites will still insist that messages of love call for pen and ink, and even after numerous attempts and a phone call to your cousin who works in IT, Granny will still struggle to locate your Doug the Pug e-card in her email inbox.

Hopefully, however, we can credit your valentine with a little more nous. If we really want to cut the environmental cost of Valentine’s Day, eco-friendly e-cards are the future.

So get used to it, Granny.

2. Ethical Valentine’s Day Chocolates

Ah, chocolate. Let’s just take another moment to think about it *eyes glaze over again*. Given what we now know about the average bar’s environmental impact, is it possible to enjoy our favourite sweet treat with a clear conscience? Is there still hope for woke, sandal-wearing chocoholics on Valentine’s Day?

Well, there are definitely a few things we can look out for when purchasing more ethical cocoa products. Chief among them are…

Fairtrade — You’ve probably spotted the Fairtrade mark on things like chocolate, coffee and bananas before. It purports to guarantee farmers a fair price for their produce and promote further investment in their communities. In fact, only 20% of your chocolate bar’s ingredients need to meet Fairtrade standards for it to bear the logo, which means many could still do more to support farmers’ welfare. Try to seek out chocolate with a higher percentage of Fairtrade ingredients and manufacturers committed to improving the lives of workers throughout their supply chain.

Organic — Organic produce is grown without the use of harmful pesticides and synthetic fertilisers. It’s growing au naturel, basically. The best organic farming practices work with nature—not against it—to produce tasty, nutritious food without damaging local ecosystems. Look out for 100% certified organic chocolates (they do exist!) and encourage more growers to go chemical-free!

Vegan — As we mentioned briefly earlier, cocoa isn’t the only potentially troublesome ingredient in our Valentine’s Day chocolates. Many varieties also contain milk—and not just the obvious ones. Be sure to check, as even some dark chocolates sneak in a dash of dairy somewhere. While not strictly a vegan issue, those containing palm oil are also best avoided.

Packaging — Thanks to David Attenborough, we now know that single-use plastics are bad. They clog up the oceans and the bellies of seabirds. They’re poisoning our planet and ourselves, and they’re due to hang around ‘til everyone reading this article is six feet under. Therefore, try to buy chocolates that’re packaged in biodegradable or easily recyclable materials only.

Now that we’re familiar with those key ideas, let’s move on to some chocolate manufacturers who fully embrace them. Starting with…

Seed and Bean — Seed and Bean are, according to the Ethical Company Organisation’s Good Shopping Guide, Britain’s most ethical chocolate brand. Their range of 100% Fairtrade, organic, vegan, bio-packaged bars features intriguing flavours combos, like Orange & Thyme, Chill & Lime, and Coconut & Raspberry. The Vegan Collection Chocolate Hamper would make an indulgent gift for Valentine’s Day. You’re welcome.

Chocolat Madagascar — Ordinarily, cocoa gets exported to factories in other countries, where it’s turned into chocolate. This means that the country of origin receives a relatively small share of the ultimate sale price. At Chocolat Madagascar, they do things differently. Their entire production process takes place in Madagascar, where the cocoa is grown, harvested and crafted into fine chocolate. Not only does this increase the value of the product they export, it also helps to strengthen the local skill base, raise tax revenue and promote investment in the community. They call it Raisetrade, and it makes theirs (arguably) the world’s fairest chocolate. Oh, it’s won awards for the way it tastes too.

3. Give Plants, Not Flowers, This Valentine’s Day

When you think about it, cut flowers are a weird thing to give your significant other. They’re destined to die from the moment they’re snipped. We take something beautiful and alive, and in our desire to possess it, we kill it. Hardly the stuff of Valentine’s card poetry, eh?

Of course, we’re hardly the first to point this out. Everyone knows flowers are an incongruous—or all too congruous—symbol of love, but we buy them anyway. They look and smell nice while they last, and who really gives a shit about symbolism?

One thing we really ought to give a shit about, however, is the environment, so if you do insist on giving a floral memento mori this Valentine’s Day, try to source locally-grown, organic varieties. Look out for the Fairtrade mark on imported flowers and request a sustainable alternative to plastic wrap if given the option.

Then again, if you really want to woo an eco-warrior, why not forget cut flowers altogether? Not only do living plants make more optimistic tokens of everlasting endearment, they’re greener too. Their journey to consumers isn’t a carbon-costly race against time and the forces of putrefaction. Given a little love and attention, they’ll continue to photosynthesise and grow, turning carbon dioxide into oxygen over and over again.

Naturally, the type of plant you buy will depend on who it’s for—are they generally green-fingered or ham-fisted? Do they have a garden? Is there plenty of natural light where they live? If in doubt, go for something that’s small and easy to care for (i.e. something they can forget to water for weeks without killing). Succulents are cute and darn near indestructible. So are Sansevierias (snake plants), plus they’re one of the best air-purifying plants on the market.

When it comes to pot plants, we’re certainly no experts (RIP Peace Lily). Visit your local garden centre and collar someone for a chat, or find out where best to shop online, here.

4. Eco-Friendly Valentine’s Days Jewellery

Sure, you can hang anything off your ears and call it jewellery—some of you probably do—but as it’s Valentine’s Day, we’re sticking with diamonds and gold. Our apologies to all the cottage industry bangle knitters out there, but certain occasions just call for some bling.

When shopping for better gold and diamonds, there are a few key things to keep in mind:

Gold — Gold bearing the Fairtrade and/or Fairmined label comes from empowered, responsible artisanal and small-scale mines (ASM). It may still be recovered using cyanide or mercury, but these are managed safely. Ecological gold is mined without the use of toxic chemicals, thereby minimising environmental damage.

Diamonds — Canadian diamonds are mined according to strict environmental and fair labour laws. Many of those that reach the market are fully traceable, making them best in class for mined diamonds. Lab-grown stones are another eco-friendly option with excellent traceability and human rights protections.

So, let’s say you’re planning a dreamy Valentine’s Day proposal. Nawh. The ideal engagement ring would be made of Fairtrade/Fairmined Ecological-certified gold and set with a traceable Canadian or lab-grown diamond. It won’t come cheap, but at least you know your romantic gesture hasn’t cost someone else their human dignity.

Of course, purchasing second-hand or recycled jewellery is potentially a more affordable option. Just be sure to buy from reputable sellers, as you could end up with recycled ‘dirty gold’ or blood diamonds. The supply chain is notoriously opaque, so at the end of the day, you just have to go with whatever feels right to you.

There are plenty of online jewellers out there, and many publish detailed information about where their metals and stones come from. Here are just a few of our favourite collections:

Cred Jewellery — Established in 1996, Cred pioneered ethical jewellery in the UK. Most of their gold comes from the Sotrami mine, in Peru, where miners are treated fairly and paid a good price, while adhering to strict health and safety regulations. Diamonds are transparently sourced from Canada where possible, and the company’s committed to making truly Fairtrade diamonds a reality in the near future. Expect both classic and contemporary designs, starting from around £50.

Arabel Lebrusan — The UK’s first collection of Fairmined Ecological gold was launched by Bedford-based designer Arabel Lebrusan in 2017. All the gold used in her ‘Engraved in My Heart’ series is mined without the use of toxic chemicals, like cyanide or mercury. Diamonds are conflict-free and traceable to Canadian mines, and platinum is 100% recycled.

The Rock Hound — Hackney-based studio, The Rock Hound make Fairtrade gold jewellery that honours the material’s imperfections. Gold takes the form of natural tourmaline crystals in the Rockstars collection, while Gold Rush pieces feature unique ‘nuggets’ designed to reference the connection between mine and market.

5. Organic and Biodynamic Wines for Valentine’s Day

We love our other halves—that goes without saying—but the prospect of spending an entire evening with them would be daunting were it not for our old friend, booze. It greases the wheels and make us funnier, more charming and more attractive than we’d otherwise appear. Without it, February 14th would be like the film Valentine’s Day—rubbish.

But getting tipsy shouldn’t come at Mother Nature’s expense. Now that we’re aware of the harm mass production methods cause, what can we do to support greener alternatives?

Well, drinking organic or biodynamic wines is a great place to start, as they’re produced without the use of artificial fertilisers and synthetic chemicals. In their absence, organic grape growers employ natural methods to keep weeds and insects at bay. They might, for example, introduce cover crops or livestock to the vineyard, thereby increasing its biodiversity.

Biodynamic growers go one step further by treating soil, plants and animals as parts of a single interrelated system. If you’re of a cynical disposition, look away now ‘cause it all gets a bit ‘New Age’. Adherents follow an astrological growing calendar while using special herbs and minerals to replenish the soil and add vitality to the plants. Although scientists have questioned the efficacy of their more mystical practices, it’s an undeniably greener method of winemaking—and hey, those speccy boffins have been wrong before.

Happily, organic and biodynamic wines are now widely available in supermarkets, off licenses and online stores. They can be affordable too—ALDI offers a well-reviewed organic prosecco for just eight quid. We’ll raise a glass to that!

Though somewhat harder to find, organic or biodynamic English sparkling wines are an even better option for eco-conscious cork-poppers. Home-grown wines cover fewer miles from field to fridge and therefore have a smaller carbon footprint. They’ve won heaps of awards too, holding their own against French and Italian competition.

This Valentine’s Day, we recommend checking out Oxney Estate’s Classic 2015, Albury Estate’s Biodynamic Wild Ferment 2013 or Davenport’s Limney Estate Sparkling Rosé 2015.

6. Go Vegan(er) This Valentine’s Day

Okay, we really don’t want to weigh in on the wider veganism debate here. Given the choice between siding with steakhouse-invading, shouty vegans or Piers Morgan, we’d sooner starve.

Nevertheless, we do recognise that cutting out, or down on, meat and dairy is one of the most significant steps an individual can take towards a greener lifestyle. We also believe that there are millions of healthy vegans out there who get all the nutrients they need from a plant-based diet. Furthermore, we don’t necessarily think they’re all preachy little chickpea fanciers.

For the sake of balance, we accept that meat and dairy are delicious. Vegan substitutes don’t taste as good, whatever the people eating them try to tell you. We’re generally not in favour of categorical statements either—declaring oneself vegan is an invitation to nit-pickers. Animals are used and exploited in myriad ways, and some ‘vegans’ will knowingly or unknowingly endorse them. Perhaps vegan-er would prove a less controversial label—it’s certainly a more realistic proposition for mass adoption in the short term.

Ultimately, what you choose to stuff your face with is your business. Do what you like—we don’t care. However, if you’re in any way concerned about the environmental cost of your Valentine’s Day, selecting a meat-free or plant-based menu is a good place to start.

If you’re cooking up a storm at home, here are some of our favourite vegan recipes to try out:

• Jamie Oliver’s Vegan Dim Sum Buns

• Felicity Cloake’s Vegan Bean Burger

• Any of these vegan recipes from Yotam Ottolenghi

• Tasty’s Best Ever Vegan Brownies

• Wallflower Kitchen’s Fluffy Vegan Pancakes

7. Be a More Responsible Shopper This Valentine’s Day

Februaries in the UK are cold and miserable, and until global warming gets its arse in gear, they’ll stay that way. Leaving the house for anything but the most pressing obligations and emergencies is strongly disadvised. Unless your employer’s credulity is literally at breaking point or you’ve vital surgery to undergo, remain indoors at all times—under a blanket, preferably.

Work commitments and medical procedures aside, online shopping now makes winter hibernation a feasible option—and that would be great, were it not for its impact on our poor, beleaguered planet.

Not bothered? Well, carry on—we’ll see you in spring. Otherwise, here are some top tips for becoming a greener shopper in the lead-up to Valentine’s Day:

(Warning: they involve going outside)

• Let’s start—and indeed continue—with the obvious. Delivering wholesale goods to retailers is more efficient than delivering individual packages to consumers’ front doors. Walking to the shops therefore saves on greenhouse gas emissions. It also makes you fitter and happier. You’ll probably see some dogs.

• Cycling is another option if you enjoy Lycra and don’t mind being despised by every other road/path user.

• When it comes to Valentine’s Day shopping, start thinking early. Easier said than done, but visiting actual shops takes time compared to clicking a few buttons.

• Shop local and independent if you can. Things produced locally travel fewer miles and have a smaller carbon footprint. Supporting independent local businesses benefits your community too.

• Be prepared to spend a little more. Eco-friendly products generally cost more to make, which means they’re often more expensive to buy. Some things will undoubtedly be cheaper on Amazon, but if you’re serious about this, you’ll shop locally and fork out the extra few quid.

• Avoid plastic and other unnecessary packaging. Otherwise, think recycled, biodegradable, easily recyclable or reusable.

• Carry a reusable shopping bag. We should all know this one by now. As its Valentine’s Day, why not pluck up the courage and make yours a bag-for-life?

• Finally, before making a purchase, always ask yourself, ‘Do I really need to buy this?’. Remember the balance we talked about earlier—environmental cost vs. value to you and your loved one. If your Valentine’s Day gift is totally worth it, go ahead. If not, pop it back on the shelf.

Leading a greener lifestyle ain’t always easy. It demands foresight, planning, budgeting and walking—lots of walking. In the lead-up to Valentine’s Day, it means battling the elements and facing the manifold horrors of an ailing British high street. It’s inconvenient, uncool, and everyone slips up from time to time, but short of fundamentally restructuring the whole rotten system, it’s the best we as individuals can do.

At least, when the environmental apocalypse arrives, we can turn to our neighbour and say—à la Shaggy—"it wasn’t me”.

8. Give Experiences This Valentine’s Day

Phew! We make that almost six thousand words of hastily researched yet well-intentioned advice. Thus far, we’ve woken up and waxed lyrical out of the goodness of our hearts—but be careful who you trust. We’re hungry capitalists too, after all, and this is where we abandon all pretence at impartiality.

Yes, we’re here to flog you something. All our talk of the environment has been a ruse to get at the only green we really care about—the cash in your wallet. We sell experience gift vouchers, and now we want you to buy one—or more, preferably.

Still, before you click away in disgust, please consider for a moment the following points:

• With experience gifts, there’s no waste! Things end up in landfill, but an experience leaves behind nothing but good memories.

• Experience gifts support small-scale, local activity providers.

• E-certificates don’t require shipping, which means fewer delivery vans on the road.

• We’ve a great range of gifts for environmentally-conscious couples—from treehouse stays to llama trekking (see below).

So d’you see? Our experience vouchers really do make eco-friendly Valentine’s Day gifts. What’s more, they’re a chance to spend time with your other half—you know, being all coupley and that.

You can browse Experience Days’ full range of romantic vouchers in our Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas section. Seen as you’re here though, why not check out some of our favourites below…

A Llama Trekking Experience — Experts will tell you that there comes a time in any relationship when you just have to say, ‘drop everything, let’s go llama trekking’. I mean, seriously, what’s not to love? Try not to become too attached though—oh, parting is such sweet sorrow!

A Pottery Class — You’ve seen Ghost, right? Well, if Patrick and Demi’s steamily suggestive antics aren’t enough to convince you, we don’t know what will. All visual innuendos aside, sharing a new creative hobby is sure to bring you closer together.

A Massage Workshop — A good massage reduces stress, but an inexpert one can have quite the opposite effect. If you’ve endured your partner’s ham-fisted kneading for too long, gifting them a massage workshop is a subtle way of upping their game!

An Argentine Tango Class — Argentine tango developed in the suburbs of Buenos Aires. Its distinctive embrace is playful yet intimate, and there’s plenty of room for improvisational flair. Whether you’ve natural rhythm or two/four left feet, it’s a hugely rewarding hobby to take up—just mind one another’s toes!

A Treehouse Minibreak — Escape the hustle and bustle of modern life and get back to nature with this whimsical treehouse experience for two. Inside, you’ll find all the creature comforts of a great hotel room—oh no, you shan’t be roughing it here!

A Tandem Bungee Jump — Sure, a bungee jump might seem daunting, but with bae by your side, anything’s possible. Hold each other tight as the world turns upside down and you fall a dizzying 160ft—that is, ‘til the bungee recoils and you’re sprung back up! Shared adrenaline rushes don’t get any bigger!

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