It is entirely possible to put a price on love, especially when nearly $26 billion is spent annually on Valentine’s Day. However, Valentine’s Day festivities don’t just cost the hopeless romantics, they cost the planet.
An awkward hug and a heart-shaped box of chocolates are a high school Valentine’s Day staple and these romantic gestures stretch far beyond PCDS walls. Americans spend over $2.8 billion on chocolate alone for the romantic festivities, totaling a remarkable 36 million boxes sold each year. Unfortunately, these rather delectable chocolates carry with them some not-so-delectable impacts. The cocoa industry, responsible for the world’s most popular Valentine’s Day treats, harms ecosystems and contributes to climate change, playing a critical role in deforestation, the utilization of pesticides, and monoculture farming. Moreover, these chocolates often come in plastic trays, further contributing to the ever-growing mountains of global plastic waste that will take centuries to decompose.
Approximately 145 million cards are exchanged annually for the holiday of love… and nothing says “I love you” quite like deforestation! The paper industry is one of the most harmful to the environment. It’s a leading contributor to deforestation, the 5th largest energy consumer, a significant reason behind the rise in soil and water pollution, and a massive greenhouse gas emission source. Additionally, a study by Exeter University found that a single greeting card carries a carbon footprint of 140g CO2.
A classic sign of romance, it is estimated that over 250 million roses are sold every year on Valentine’s Day. The token red roses received typically come from farms utilizing high amounts of pesticides, water, and land, all of which cause devastating droughts, destroy ecosystems, and lead to deforestation. Not to mention, these roses are oftentimes shipped overseas, resulting in massive carbon emissions. This, coupled with plastic, everlasting packaging, contributes significantly to the masses of plastic pollution in the US and around the world.
Nonetheless, there are still ways to gift sustainably on Valentine’s Day. Here are a few ideas that can help spread the love for both you and your planet this February.
- Instead of prepackaged flowers, give a potted plant.
- Choose fair trade chocolate: look for additional certifications (including Rainforest Alliance and USDA Organic).
- Write a homemade card.
- Thrift your gifts.
- Gift organic, locally grown flowers.
