Looking for a way to celebrate Valentine’s Day that doesn’t harm the environment? We’re sharing 5 eco-friendly ways to celebrate your favourite romantic holiday.

The Eco Chic team recently shared our best ideas for sustainable Valentine's Day gifts. But, we understand the most important part of February 14th is spending time with your loved one. Enjoying the company of those you love and showing your appreciation for them far outweighs any material gift. However, the activities we engage in can still contribute to our carbon footprint. If you want to make this Valentine’s Day your most planet-pleasing yet, you need to know about these low emission ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

Ditch the supermarket flowers and chocolate boxes

We shared this in our sustainable gift guide blog post, but it's worth noting again: It's time to ditch the supermarket flowers and chocolates. We're sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but it's the number one thing you can do for the planet this February! Shop-bought Valentine's Day gifts are usually drowning in plastic and paper, meaning their excessive waste lasts longer than the gift itself.

There are numerous alternatives to purchasing red roses and chocolate selections. But if you're not ready to give up these traditional gifts, we encourage you to find small brands creating more sustainable versions. For example, seek out a business that only sells organic flowers.

If you want to celebrate Valentine's Day with a token of your love and appreciation, you can find incredible sustainable gift ideas in our recent gift guide.

Take a trip

There's nothing more magical than escaping the everyday and spending time with the person who matters most to you. But, you might be thinking, taking a trip doesn't sound very environmentally friendly. After all, isn't the travel industry one of the leading contributors to rising carbon emissions? And the answer is yes, the travel industry (especially aviation) has a prominent role to play in soaring greenhouse gas levels. In 2019, the aviation industry produced 9145 million tonnes of CO2. And cars, boats, trains and other transportation also contribute to these levels as well. However, that doesn’t mean we have to give up our holidays and never scratch that travel itch. Instead, we need to be aware of how our actions have an impact and do what we can to minimise these (no matter how big or small this is).

Here are a few ways you can make your Valentine's Day trip more eco-friendly:

• If you have to fly to your destination, try to travel with an airline that uses sustainable aviation biofuel.
• Prioritise travelling via train. Trains use ten times fewer carbon emissions than a plane. And, some trains are even carbon-neutral. For example, the Eurostar. If you're UK-based, why not hop on the Eurostar and experience a few nights in Paris, the most romantic city in the world?
• Those travelling via boat can prioritise small ships as these require fewer carbon emissions.
• Stay in a sustainable hotel. Many luxury sustainable hotels are perfect for a romantic getaway. Enjoy experiencing the innovative designs and resources used in these locations while spending time with your lover in a beautiful location.
• Leave every location exactly as you found it. Never litter and don’t interfere with wildlife or plants. If you’re heading on a city break, this might be slightly easier. But, no matter your location, remember you’re the one visiting, and you need to show respect for the places you’re exploring.
• Don’t engage in harmful tourist attractions. We’re all familiar with the photographs of people petting chained up tigers or riding elephants. Although these might seem like fun and harmless activities, remember these animals don’t belong here.

Make your gift

Homemade gifts are an extra special way to show someone you care. The time and effort you've dedicated to creating something for them far out ways the sentiment of a store-bought gift. And making your gift means your purposeful present has a significantly lower carbon footprint.

Why not turn creating your gift into a celebration you can experience with your partner? If you want to bake them a cake, spend the afternoon baking together. Alternatively, you can have a craft evening where you make each other cards (and likely giggle at the outcome).

Plus, you can make this even more eco-friendly by using recycled craft materials and shopping locally for your cake ingredients!

Gift an experience

If you don't have time for a trip away, but you like the idea of celebrating together outside the home, an experience present is ideal. If you and your partner are adrenaline fanatics who love to get your hearts racing, physical activities such as rock climbing or windsurfing are ideal. Or, if you prefer something more chill, spend an evening having cooking lessons from a professional chef. During the latter, you'll get to work with your partner, reminding you why you're such a great team!

Gifting an experience is a two-in-one gift and celebration. Purchase the activity for your loved one and make it a fun and unique way to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

Have an eco-friendly picnic

Heading out for dinner is a popular Valentine's Day activity. And while we can make our evenings more eco-friendly by eating in establishments without meat or who source their food locally, cancelling your reservations is even better.

Rather than heading out to a restaurant, you can enjoy a sustainable picnic. Eating establishments produce excessive food waste, require large amounts of energy, and their meals can have high carbon footprints (especially if they're meat-based). In comparison, you can create a planet-pleasing picnic by sourcing your food locally, bringing snacks from home, and eating in-season produce. Plus, a picnic shared between you and the person you love most can feel much more intimate than visiting an overflowing restaurant on the busiest day of the year.

Adopting an eco-friendly lifestyle doesn't mean we have to stop enjoying special occasions and celebrating those we love. Having an eco-friendly Valentine's Day is easier than you might think. And, often taking time to consider creative, environmentally friendly ways to mark the occasion results in more meaningful ideas. Enjoy celebrating your love with these five eco-friendly ways to celebrate Valentine's Day in 2022.