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The 14th of February, while a celebration of romance, brings a great deal of environmental concern. In efforts to tackle climate change, learn how you can make eco-friendly and sustainable choices this year.
Valentine’s Day is, for the most part, synonymous with compassion and endearment. However, its focus on consumerism and single-use products makes it a particularly concerning holiday for the environment.
With the ongoing climate crisis, individual environmental responsibility is become increasingly more pressing. As we continue to hear troubling news about our oceans, microplastics, waste, emissions, and everything in between, many of us are interested in avoiding throwaway culture.
Consider yourself part of this group? Here’s a few tricks to help you stay responsible this Valentine’s Day.
Consider digital cards rather than purchasing traditional gifts
Many of us are guilty of throwing away cards after a certain period of time. Unfortunately, most end up in landfills. Components of the card, such as glitter and glues, are likely to end up in the ocean and are often consumed by marine life.
Most greeting cards found in stores are bleached, releasing toxins into ecosystems and harming wildlife. One way or another, the lethal substances these greeting cards are laced with end up in food chains, eventually influencing the health of humans.
For those who prefer showing love through greeting cards, it can still be done through other means.
With platforms like Canva aiding so many in their graphic design ventures, this platform can be used to create specialised digital cards. These platforms offer templates that can be customised with ease and you won’t be chucking anything into the ocean, most crucially.
Buy your flowers locally
Due to climate change, yields of roses continue to decrease as they struggle to adapt to hotter weather.
As a result, roses are outsourced and imported from other countries such as the Netherlands, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Ecuador.
Specifically in Kenya, 60% of the flowers produced are roses. With the value of floral exports being valued at $500 billion in the country, the need for export quality flowers brings in the use of pesticides in flower farms.
"Amid deforestation, pesticide use, artificial light pollution and climate change, these critters are struggling — along with the crops, flowers and other animals that rely on them to survive."https://t.co/SOigjSf6GU
— Friends of the Earth (Action) (@foe_us) January 19, 2023
