What is the first thing that pops up in your mind when it comes to Valentine’s Day? Couples, love, chocolates, and flowers. Nowadays, people focus more on stuff than emotions since the 20th century. According to a survey by National Retail Federation, the total amount Americans spend on gifts for their loved ones reached21.8 billion. In other words, the average spending amount for each person was $165.
Now, let’s talk about what makes Valentine’s Day unsustainable. First, the cards. Based on research, 75%of cards were discarded after Valentine’s Day. Second, the foil balloons. To see their loved ones’ smiles, lots of people will buy a bunch of unique balloons as a present; however, they might not know that the foil is not biodegradable. Third, the packaging of flowers and sweet delights. There are many wrapping wastes and extra plastics used in making bunches of flowers and sweet delights to make them more gorgeous and eye-catching. Finally, much merchandise is manufactured especially for Valentine’s Day, which means that if the products were not sold out after this period, there is a high possibility that they would be thrown away. After all, is it possible that we can go green to celebrate Valentine’s Day with our loved ones? The answer is YES for sure. There are some ways we can do this instead of the original terms we used to do. Here are some examples. Select e-cards if you want to give a card to express your love or maybe sing a love song to your loved ones. Second, try to choose merchandise that has recyclable and biodegradable packaging, or you can choose a present that could last longer than that one-time stuff. For instance, the plotted plants, the dry flowers, or the hand-made artifacts. We can do a favor for our planet by adjusting our purchase behaviors.
Reference
King, S. (2023, January 12). 14 sustainable Valentine's day gifts for your loved one. Sustainably Chic. Retrieved February 9,
2023, from https://www.sustainably-chic.com/blog/sustainable-valentines-day-gifts