by Nina Blagic

Modern Valentine's Day, a holiday about love and affection, is also about extravagant gestures, lavish gifts, and a surge in consumerism. Most people buy chocolate, freshly cut flowers, stuffed animals, and greeting cards as gifts, which contributes to over-consumption and unnecessary waste. While gift exchanges are a time-honoured tradition, the environmental impact is an overlooked part of these festivities. Excessive consumption contributes to environmental issues, including resource depletion, waste generation, and carbon emissions. Gardeners use pesticides and intensive irrigation to cultivate flowers en masse, creating soil degradation and water pollution; plastic pollution from single-use plastics, ribbons, and excessive wrapping paper is an ever-growing problem; and the transportation of all these goods from source to shop to home only increases our carbon footprint.

Express love for each other and the planet by encouraging responsible consumerism during Valentine's Day.

Why Should We Care?

Greeting cards alone generate approximately $8 billion each year, and most of them end up in landfills within a few weeks, producing potent greenhouse gases like methane and carbon dioxide. Since the 18th century, CO2 in the atmosphere has increased by 50% because of human activities, increasing global temperatures, which in turn increases the severity of weather events and impacts us in our daily lives. In the Northern Hemisphere, CO2 is the highest in the springtime and decreases as plants use CO2 to fuel their growth through summer until autumn; however, plants release the CO2 back into the atmosphere during their autumnal decomposition. This means many popular celebrations, including Valentine's Day, occur when CO2 is already at its highest.

Human contribution to excess carbon dioxide comes from activities like burning fossil fuels and deforestation, both of which are necessary to produce mass-made greetings cards, unethically sourced cocoa, and other Valentine’s Day staples. According to Exeter University, sending a single greeting card produces 140g of carbon dioxide. Moreover, The International Council on Clean Transportation uncovered that 360,000 metric tons of carbon emissions could be attributed to the transportation of flowers in the three weeks leading up to February 14th.

But there must be a way to have your cake (or box of chocolates) and eat it too. Good news: there is! Remember to make mindful choices. Who says you have to abandon all Valentine’s Day traditions? A sustainable lifestyle should be fun, healthy, and cost-effective. Go eco-friendly this Valentine's Day to show love for your special someone and the environment. Our list of eco-friendly gift ideas is affordable, easy to plan, and sentimental.

Intangible Gifts

Ditch the physical gifts altogether and opt for intangible gifts. Experiential gifts are deeply enriching—these presents involve learning new skills, engaging in activities that contribute to personal growth, and prioritizing memories over objects that may become future clutter. Ultimately, they shift our focus from material possessions to the present time. Fun fact: you can do most of these activities at home!

Take a Class

Shopping locally is often more environmentally friendly because local products typically require less transportation to reach consumers, which minimizes carbon emissions and helps maintain a diverse and resilient local economy. Find classes for your niche interest locally or online. Here are some local class suggestions: G-Pots Pottery, Crock A Doodle Windsor, Sketch Clay + Pottery.

If local artisan courses are not within your budget, you can find plenty of tutorials on YouTube to follow.

Here are some ideas:

• Follow a cooking video after buying fresh, local produce.

• Use an old ball of yarn you have at home and watch a crochet video.

• Go through your craft supplies and make greeting cards with materials you already own.

• Dance in the middle of your living room.

Wine Tasting

Alternatively, if you want to go on a date outside of the comfort of your house, you can visit the Pelee Island Winery, or any other winery and brewery close to you, and taste-test some new spirits to get you into the spirit! Check out Tourism Windsor-Essex for the official local Winery Guide.

Suggested locations: Frank Brewing Co., Chapter Two Brewing Company, Colio Estate Winery, Mastronardi Estate Winery, and Wagner Orchards & Estate Winery.

As an at-home alternative, purchase a few local wines, wrap each bottle in recycled paper or fabric, and have a blind-tasting game. Guessing the varieties can be a fun and educational experience. You can experiment by pairing the wines with different foods and discussing which combinations work the best.

At-Home Spa Day

Ditch the expensive spas and make DIY masks with organic and ethically sourced ingredients you already own. Create DIY face masks using natural ingredients like honey, yogurt, oats, and fruits (generally, avocados are also safe to use on the skin), eliminating the need for store-bought products with packaging. Another eco-responsible tip is to use reusable cotton cloths instead of disposable wipes to cleanse and exfoliate.

To set the mood, light up the room with candles made from beeswax or soy wax, which are renewable and cleaner-burning than traditional candles. Mix sugar or coffee grounds with coconut oil for a natural and biodegradable body scrub, and create a playlist with sounds of nature to enhance the calming atmosphere.

Visit a Local Event or Museum

If you are in Windsor, Ontario, the Walkerville area is known for its local arts and cultural hubs. You can stroll outside Willistead Manor or visit the Art-Windsor Essex art gallery. Museums play a crucial role in the preservation of historical artifacts and artworks. By visiting local museums, you support their efforts to maintain and display these items within the community, reducing the need for long-distance transportation of cultural artifacts. Many Canadian museums offer Indigenous exhibits deeply tied to respecting the natural world.

See a local performance and meet interesting folks at Phog Lounge and Villains Beastro. Local venues offer an intimate space with lower environmental impacts because they require less lighting, heating, and electricity than arenas and stadiums. Supporting local bands contributes to the cultural vibrancy of the community. Take advantage of the local arts and culture in your immediate surroundings.

Bird Watching and Stargazing

Nature Canada named Windsor as Canada’s 16th bird-friendly city in 2022, which means that Windsor successfully met the following criteria: reducing human-related threats to birds; habitat protection, restoration, and climate resiliency; and community outreach/education. Go birdwaxtching to take advantage of Windsor and Essex County’s birding hotspots. We recommend visiting Ojibway or Point Pelee. Grab a birding guide from the Visitor Center and embark on a natural scavenger hunt. The Essex Public Library offers birding backpacks you can check out, which include binoculars and a Southern Ontario bird guide. Bird watchers learn about different species and habitats, contributing to a better understanding of local ecosystems and biodiversity. Bird watching is a low-impact recreational activity that does not disrupt natural habitats. Unlike some outdoor activities, birding generally involves observing and appreciating nature without causing harm to the environment (make sure to dispose of waste properly and keep trails litter-free). At night, look up and observe celestial bodies and identify constellations (there are many free stargazing apps that identify constellations).

Second-Hand Gifts

Employ the principles of a circular economy to your consumption habits and purchase repurposed, reused, refused, repaired, and recycled gifts to minimize waste. Buying second-hand items gives products a longer life cycle, reducing the overall demand for new goods and helping prevent usable items from ending up in landfills prematurely. If you want to purchase a tangible gift, find a pre-loved treasure. Many second-hand shops affiliate with well-known charities, and their proceeds often go towards supporting community initiatives. Here are some thrifty date ideas:

Board Games

Bond over classic games or discover new ones together. Choose games (or puzzles) that suit your preferences, from strategic board games to light-hearted ones. Bring people together by bonding (or fighting) over a board game. It will ensure you have something solid to discuss.

Vintage Shopping Spree

Spend the day exploring local thrift stores and vintage shops for unique finds. Challenge each other to find the quirkiest or most interesting item.

Tip: Set a budget to make it even more exciting, and enjoy the thrill of the hunt.

Here is a list of some thrift stores and vintage shops in Windsor: Timeless Treasures, Audrey's Closet and Company, Full Circle Vintage, Mission Thrift Store Windsor, Hope For A Cure Thrift Store, Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, Value Village, Goodwill, and Plato's Closet.

Used Bookstore Date

Select a book (or many books) from the thrift store or local used bookshop for both of you to read, then set up a cozy reading area at home and discuss the book over coffee or tea. You will walk away from the date with a unique book and conversation starter.

Bonus: visit a local café after the bookshop adventure.

Used bookstores in Windsor include: Juniper Books, Biblioasis Bookshop, and The Goodwill Bookstore (or visit the book section of any thrift shop).

Café recommendations: Café Amor & Art, Taloolas Café, The Coffee Exchange, Ciao Café, Anchor House, Toto Café, Green Bean Café, and Café March 21 (a lot of these locations are within walking distance of the used bookstores mentioned above).

Pre-Owned Jewelry

Companies like Brilliant Earth, Mejuri, and SOKO offer ethical and sustainable new jewelry and lab-grown diamonds with a heftier price tag. That said, it is even better for the environment if you purchase a vintage or pre-loved gem because it reduces the demand for new mining and extraction of precious metals and gemstones. Avoid supporting potentially unethical practices associated with some mining operations and promote responsible consumption with your purchases. Choosing a pre-owned adornment reduces the carbon cost of producing, transporting, and marketing new jewelry items.

Explore thrift stores, vintage shops, pawn shops, online marketplaces, and estate sales for a diverse selection. Vintage shops and thrift stores are full of unique jewelry pieces, but you cannot plan to find a specific item if you are going this route. Curated second-hand shops, Facebook Marketplace, and Kijiji are great options if you are looking for a specific item (such as a ring, necklace, etc.), but it might cost you a bit more since these pieces are more curated (but it will be more affordable than new pieces, and there is always room for negotiation).

Whether you opt for intangible experiences that create cherished memories or venture into the world of second-hand treasures, each choice contributes to a more eco-friendly celebration. Windsor's charm and its array of local businesses and thrift stores offer the perfect backdrop for a Valentine's Day that leaves a positive mark on both your relationship and the environment. So, let love bloom in the heart of Windsor-Essex, where sustainability and romance can intertwine for a memorable and greener celebration.