Valentine's Day: Celebrate Love, Honor the Earth

Valentine's Day isn't just about expressing love to your significant other; it's also an opportunity to extend that love to Mother Earth. While the holiday is typically associated with love and joy, it unfortunately contributes to a significant amount of waste that poses harm to the environment.

Rather than solely focusing on traditional gift-giving, we believe Valentine's Day offers a chance to demonstrate our love for both people and the planet through meaningful actions.

To help you celebrate in a more sustainable manner, we've crafted the ECOlunchbox Gift Guide 2024. Within it, you'll find eight easy actions that everyone can take to minimize unnecessary waste and embrace a more eco-friendly approach to the holiday.

Discover how celebrating this year in an environmentally conscious way can be both enjoyable and cost-effective. Read on for insights into making Valentine's Day a celebration that leaves a positive impact on our world.

1. Embracing causes close to your heart, be it championing plastic pollution solutions, standing up for animal welfare, advocating for human rights, or safeguarding our environment, can be achieved through a variety of meaningful actions. Whether you choose to contribute financially or generously invest your time, your support is invaluable. You have the power to make a difference, whether it's through a heartfelt donation or by dedicating your precious time to volunteer.
   
   
2. Engaging in mindful gift-giving is a heartfelt gesture to express your love and affection. While chocolates, flowers, and stuffed animals are delightful, they often arrive encased in non-biodegradable packaging. Embrace the opportunity to make eco-conscious choices by selecting plastic-free presents, such as reusable stainless steel food containers filled with homemade delights. Or opt for gifts that prioritize health and the environment, like clothing crafted from organic cotton or candles made without petroleum, and invite your loved ones to share in your commitment to an eco-friendly lifestyle.
   
   
3. When you opt for take-out, it often leads to a significant amount of waste due to disposable dishes, utensils, and packaging. To minimize your environmental footprint, you can explore alternatives such as cooking a meal at home or selecting a restaurant that welcomes your own leak-proof, reusable stainless steel containers for packing your to-go order. If bringing your containers isn't an option, consider politely asking the restaurant if they can provide plastic-free, biodegradable takeout containers. It's important to note that to-go waste constitutes a substantial portion, nearly 40%, of solid municipal waste, as reported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.





4. Embracing eco-consciousness involves making mindful choices to lessen your environmental footprint. This includes actions like conserving water and electricity, minimizing food waste, parting ways with plastic, and wholeheartedly adopting sustainable practices
   
   
5. Instead of presenting tangible gifts, contemplate gifting the precious commodities of your time and undivided attention. Plan a memorable outing or activity to share with your loved ones, cherishing quality moments together and ensuring you are fully present and engaged during your interactions.
   
   
6. Make it a point to support mission-driven and local enterprises, allowing you to express your values through your purchasing decisions. By becoming a conscientious consumer, you can direct your spending towards businesses that resonate with your ideals and aspirations. Consider looking for businesses with third-party certifications, such as women-owned brands and B Corporations, which undergo independent assessments for their commitment to environmental and social values. We particularly recommend keeping an eye out for B Corporations.
   
   
7. Incorporating mindful eating and self-care into your routine can enhance your ability to stay fully engaged with both people and the world around you. This might involve practices such as meditation, yoga, spending time in nature, tending to a garden, or any other activity that aids in releasing negativity and promoting relaxation of both the body and mind.
   
   
8. While sending a heartfelt note to a loved one is a thoughtful gesture, traditional cards frequently find their way into landfills. In the United States alone, approximately 145 million Valentine's Day cards are exchanged each year. To minimize waste, opt for crafting your own card or sending an e-card instead of purchasing cards made from non-recycled paper.