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The best sustainable Valentine’s day gift ideas in 2023.
No matter if it’s a ‘When Harry Met Sally’ type of romance, a self-empowerment day on the level of Britney Spear’s Stronger, or super thoughtful gifts for your best friends, Valentine’s day is the quintessential time to show some love.
That being said, this year, Cupid is aiming to help us reconsider our views on V-Day gift shopping. Instead of opting for yet another stuffed animal or dusty box of chocolates (obviously purchased last minute at the local big box stores), why not take into consideration our best sustainable valentine’s day gift ideas?
Is valentines day unsustainable?
What makes us so eager to persuade you to ditch those mass-market buys? February 14, by itself, represents an increase of 9 million kilograms of CO2, plus everything “normally” released into our atmosphere.
Did you know that most heart-shaped, ribbon-adorned chocolate is unethically sourced? On average, cocoa farmers earn less than $2 per day, an income much below the poverty line. There is already enough press around the cocoa industry’s direct connection to the worst forms of child labor, human trafficking, and slavery.
Yes, but flowers are the purest and most sustainable valentine’s day gift ideas, right? We hear you ask. Just three weeks of flower delivery flights result in 360,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions. In reality, during colder months, when you buy a bunch of roses in the UK, USA, etc., they are often grown in Africa. So on top of being riddled with pesticides, they are also sourced from countries using unethical labor. So no, not all flowers are sustainable, unfortunately.
With this in mind, we rounded up a few sweet tokens to help you show your love in the most sustainable way possible. Our sustainable valentine’s day gift ideas will help you find that special something for your special someone. No waste, unethical production methods, and toxic materials – we promise.
How can I make Valentine’s Day sustainable?
If you want to make Valentine’s day sustainable, start by opting for eco-friendly Valentine’s day gifts. Instead of choosing something cute yet generic, invest in a long-lasting present you know they’ll love. Some great ideas are fair trade chocolate, ethical flowers, sustainable jewelry, zero-waste self-care kits, and of, course, experiences. Don’t forget to check out our Best Zero Waste Gift Wrapping Ideas.
What are some great experience gift ideas for Valentine’s Day?
The best sustainable valentine’s day gift ideas don’t have to be physical. You can always choose to gift a memorable experience instead. From spa days and couples massages to a few nights at a raved-about eco resort, a great subscription, online workshops, and virtual museum tickets –just to name a few.
What are the best timeless gifts for Valentine’s Day?
In order to have a sustainable celebration of your love, it would be best to opt for eco-friendly Valentine’s day gifts. Handcrafted fair trade jewelry, artwork, naughty yet classic lingerie from ethical brands, and non-toxic perfumes are all great options.
This post is about the best eco-friendly Valentine’s day gift ideas.
The best sustainable valentine's day gifts for eco-friendly partners
1. Couples Photoshoot
A fun and exciting idea for Valentine’s day? A couple’s photography session allows you to capture memories to last a lifetime. Find a theme you both love, scout the nearby area for the most photo-worthy corners, and let the photographer work his magic.
Just search for “couples photography near me” and pick the professional who matches your aesthetic the most. Granted, this is perhaps one of the most sustainable Valentine’s day gift ideas on our list.
(left) My husband and I scheduled a family photo shoot and we were thrilled when the photographer took time to capture us apart from the kiddos. These photos are absolutely precious to us!
2. Ethical Jewelry
Jewelry? On Valentine’s Day? Shocking! No, we are not referring to the “basics”.
There are so many fair trade & sustainable jewelry brands like Astor & Orion (left) and Sara Patino ready to dazzle that special someone with hand-crocheted lace earrings, whimsical Amethyst drop necklaces, as well as artfully crafted jewels with ethical pearls and white topaz.
All pieces are made by hand locally with sustainably sourced materials and lots of love.
Ethical Jewelry Gifts for Valentines Day:
3. Artwork
Let’s move on to the best sustainable Valentine’s day gift ideas for art lovers. Is your loved one an artistic soul who can’t stop decorating the apartment with new artwork pieces?
This In our Hands Illustration deserves a place on the wall! If they are more into spirituality, then this Forest witch will definitely excite them. There are thousands of options available on Etsy.
If you’re looking for something more personal, check out this amazing artist who recreates your photo into a stunning water color! This may just be my personal choice this year for gifting!
4. Non Toxic Candles
Display-worthy, non-toxic candles made from beeswax and coconut wax don’t rely on harmful chemicals to create that special ambiance.
On the contrary, they are ethically created with therapeutic-grade and ethically-sourced ingredients for a clean and healthy burn. Some have a very light scent while others promise to fill a room and linger after the candle has been extinguished.
SKL favorite non-toxic candles:
5. Fair Trade Chocolate
The world’s chocolate production is rife with unethical business practices – from using child slave labor to harvest and produce chocolate to rampant “rainforest demolition. So why not take the ethical route?
One of the best sustainable Valentine’s day gift ideas is Fair Trade chocolate. This means that the farmers and workers who produced the cocoa receive an additional Fairtrade Premium on top of the price of their crop.
SKL favorite ethical chocolate:
6. Sustainable Getaway
Who said that the best sustainable Valentine’s day gift ideas should be physical? This is a great (and oh-so-romantic) opportunity to spend extra quality time with a loved one away from the hassle and bustle of the city.
One of our favorites? The getaway house (left).
We also made a list of the best eco resorts for your next earth-friendly vacation but you can always find local guides with extra suggestions close to your town.
Did you know that not all wine is vegan? Crazy, huh? Not to fear, we have gathered up 15 of the best vegan-friendly and sustainable wine brands out there to treat your loved ones.
Options include your typical red, whites, rosé, sparkling, canned wines, non-alcoholic wine, and more!
A few of our favorite vegan wine brands:
Best vegan wine to gift on Valentine's Day:
8. Organic Spa Kit
Etsy is the mecca for all things cutesy, handmade, and organic. So what’s a better place to look for the best sustainable Valentine’s day gift ideas for her who adores self-pampering?
This plastic-free, vegan Merry Berry *GlücksBox is a pleasure for the eyes and for the nose, but above all the skin will appreciate it.
Alternatively, you can opt for the Sleep Well Gift Box which is a fantastic sleep care package, and enjoy a peaceful night’s rest. Note that both brands have over 8.000 sales and dozens of raving reviews.
9. Eco Friendly couple’s sex toy
We took the liberty to make a list of the best eco-friendly sex toys of 2023 to help you get that mind-blowing orgasmic high in the most non-toxic way possible!
Yes, your favorite toy could be exposing you to harmful chemicals, so we highly suggest opting for a body-safe eco-friendly couples’ sex toy made of Silicone from Je Joue Couples Collection.
For lgbtqia+ beauties, the Share Lite Double Dildo or Silicone Remote Pinpoint Pleaser are all great ideas!
10. Fairtrade flowers
Unfortunately, flowers can generate serious carbon emissions because of refrigeration and long-haul transport.
Fairtrade flowers, however, are traceable back to the original farm all while ensuring the safety and working conditions for their employees. Sense Ecuador (USA) is a socially and environmentally conscious business with premium fair trade roses.
Arena Flowers (UK) offers gorgeous bouquets sourced from a range of Fairtrade-certified farms in Kenya.
Aside from allowing your hands to slide more easily *wink* massage oil also hydrates and treats the skin–minus the unwanted chemicals.
Plus, it has aromas and essences that promote certain sensations. So make sure to add Meow Meow Tweet to your sustainable valentine’s day gift ideas checklist.
The formula is gentle, non-greasy, and infused with organic essential oils of chamomile, neroli, bergamot, and rose geranium.
Price: $22
Sustainability: Certified Organic Ingredients, Fair Trade, B-Certified Corporation, Climate-Neutral
Shipping & Location: USA
12. Non-toxic Perfume
Long gone are the days when non-toxic perfumes lack the lasting power and aroma complexity of traditional options.
Our best sustainable valentine’s day gift ideas for perfume-loving partners are many! However, the choice is deeply personal.
Go ahead and visit Credo to discover a catalog of 130+ brands with 2,000+ best-in-clean products available. They have over 80 fragrance gifts.
Or, have a look at some of the most raved-about non-toxic perfume brands like Henry Rose(left)!
Great non-toxic perfumes to gift in 2023:
13. Couples massage/spa day (or DIY at home!)
As well as giving you a feeling of ultimate relaxation, spa days offer a much-needed break from reality. Everyone loves pampering, but this self-care ritual comes with additional benefits.
It can improve circulation, reduce inflammation in the body, and enhance the body’s autoimmune response. Sounds great right?
Alternatively, you can DIY your own spa session at home by lighting some aromatherapy candles and picking ambient music. You can have a super bubbly hot bath, enjoy the romance, give each other a great massage, and put on the most moisturizing face masks.
14. Sustainable lingerie
Oh, lingerie – the secretive equivalent to our favorite power suit. We’ve already made a list of ethical lingerie brands with options ranging from flirty and cute to sexy and daring.
Julie May’s certified sustainable organic cotton underwear. Chic, classic, and drenched in pastels. They’ve won the London Prestige Award after impressing everyone with their luxurious lingerie!
Another favorite is Cosabella from Italy (worldwide shipping). Their selections are absolutely drool worthy!
Our Favorite Valentine's Day Lingerie:
15. Sustainable slippers
Ethical house shoes are the best way to practice self-care from the ground up no matter your age or gender!
So why not help your significant other keep their tootsies and the environment happy with a pair of all-natural, sustainable slippers from Kyrgies?
They are crafted with chemical-free natural felted wool. Plus, you can add “nuno-felting” insoles made from vulcanized rubber or vegetable-tanned leather to up the coziness even more!
More favorite sustainable slippers:
The Best Valentine's Day Gifts of 2023.
No matter your partner’s age, gender, and orientation, the best eco-friendly Valentine’s day gifts will not only adhere to their sustainability pledge but also make them go “awww” with delight as soon as they treat up the zero-waste packaging.
Thoughtful, highly-useful, and downright cute, the aforementioned presents will help you celebrate your love in the most sustainable way possible.
If you liked this post, you’ll definitely want to check out these other posts from SKL:
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