21 Simple Zero-Waste Valentine’s Day Gifts For Your Love
If you have a partner, lover, or great friend, you probably want to express your love and appreciation for them on Valentine’s Day. Below are a few zero-waste Valentine’s Day gift ideas!
Many holidays, especially Valentine’s Day and Christmas, have been transformed into occasions to buy things. The commercialization of holidays typically creates a lot of waste.
However, gift-giving can be a love language, and I don’t want to discourage expressions of love. Instead, I encourage you to choose lower-waste gift options when possible.
Remember, zero-waste, at least how I define it, does not mean that there are literally zero items to place in the compost, recycling, or trash. Instead, zero-waste means making an intentional effort to minimizing those items as much as possible. Further, it means to choose compostable and recyclable items over things that will need to go to the landfill or become litter. Be gentle with yourself. Living a zero-waste lifestyle is a process, and the way our society functions, it is impossible to be perfectly zero-waste.
Good zero-waste gift ideas for Valentine’s Day (and all occasions for gift-giving) include consumable items, experiences, reusable items, and unpackaged things.
This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. This money will help keep the site running. If you have more eco-friendly options near you, buy those instead.
Consumable Zero-Waste Valentine’s Day Gifts
Things that are consumable (i.e., edible or otherwise used up entirely) are an excellent zero-waste option, as long as they do not come in single-use packaging.
1. Baked Goods
If you bake your love cookies, brownies, cake, etc., they can eat the entire gift, and they will appreciate your effort!
You can make it extra special by giving the baked goods a Valentine’s Day theme. For example, you can decorate your cake with hearts or cut your cookies into heart shapes.
I have an intense sweet tooth and am a sucker for homemade gifts, so I know I would appreciate something like this.
2. Beer
Consider giving your partner a pack of their favorite beer for Valentine’s Day. Your love can drink the beer and then recycle the glass bottle. You can be even more eco-friendly by purchasing from a local microbrewery or by brewing it yourself! If you or your partner are vegan, you can search for a vegan beer at barnivore.com or urbantastebud.com/vegan-alcohol-list/.
My favorite Wisconsin-brewed beer is New Glarus’s Spotted Cow. We are collecting all of our beer bottle caps. Eventually, we will fill a can of the same type of metal with the caps and recycle them in that larger recyclable can. Alone, they are too small for most recycling centers to accept.
3. Bulk Chocolate
If you have a store with bulk bins–like Outpost Natural Foods, the Glass Pantry, and Sprouts Farmers Market–near you, buy chocolate for your love in bulk! Bulk chocolate is another completely edible gift!
I would personally take an old, empty, and cleaned pasta jar and fill it with dark-chocolate covered almonds from the bulk containers at one of the places mentioned above. Hint!
Don’t worry. You subtract the empty bottle’s weight from the total, so you aren’t paying for your Prego jar on top of your chocolate.
4. Dinner
Prepare a romantic meal for your loved one. Once again, your loved one can eat the gift and will appreciate your effort.
5. Liquor
Another option is to give your partner liquor. They can make their favorite cocktails and drink the liquor over time. Eventually, they can recycle its bottle. Do not include a cocktail straw unless necessary. If the straw is needed, provide a reusable one, if possible. If you or your partner are vegan, you can search for vegan liquor at barnivore.com or urbantastebud.com/vegan-alcohol-list/.
My partner and I both love bourbon. He grew up just outside of Louisville, Kentucky, so I’m not surprised he likes it. As a Wisconsinite, I think I am supposed to like brandy. Here in Wisconsin, it is the drink-of-choice. My grandmother even had a dog named Brandy!
6. Nonalcoholic Beverage
If your love is sober or just not a big fan of beer, liquor, or wine, try giving them a favorite non-alcoholic beverage in recyclable glass or metal packaging.
My guy loves ginger beer as a special treat.
7. Soap
Support a local soapmaker and give your love a bar of vegan handmade soap.
A local soap company near me, called Cream City Soap Co., makes vegan handmade soap and will ship them “naked,” so you don’t even have a paper sleeve to recycle or compost. My partner orders these from Milwaukee Farmers United and loves them.
8. Wine
Finally, in my mind, nothing says, “Happy Valentine’s Day,” like a bottle of wine. You and your love can drink the wine, recycle the bottle, and compost the cork. Make sure the cork is not synthetic. If you or your partner are vegan, you can search for vegan wine at barnivore.com or urbantastebud.com/vegan-alcohol-list/.
My partner and I are fans of cheap red wine. We’re easy to please.
Consumables to Avoid
Many consumables make great zero-waste, eco-friendly gifts, but some do not. Try to avoid purchasing items that manufacturers have excessively packaged in plastic. For example, try to avoid candies that are individually wrapped in plastic.
Although chocolates in boxes are not individually wrapped, boxes of chocolate can also contain excessive packaging, such as plastic trays with indentations for each chocolate or candy cups, which are usually lined with a non-stick, grease-resistant coating.
Finally, if you buy beer or other canned beverages, try to avoid packs with plastic pack rings (aka hi-cones or yokes). Instead, get your cans or bottles in cardboard boxes, which are easily recyclable. If you end up with plastic six-pack rings, you can send them to Terracycle to be recycled.
Experience-Based Zero-Waste Valentine’s Day Gifts
1. Coupon Book
Make your loved one a coupon book. The book will include things you will do with or for them when they wish to redeem their coupon. For example, your book could contain a back massage coupon. It could also have a coupon for you to do their chores for a day.
Not creative? Get my printable coupon book for FREE.
2. Go Camping
If you and your partner are outdoorsy and the weather permits, take your partner camping. It is a great way to connect deeply with each other and nature without the distractions of smartphones, computers, and television.
Need supplies? If you can afford it, consider purchasing Patagonia brand gear. They have an excellent reputation for their commitment to sustainability and the environment.
Personally, I am not a fan of winter camping, though. Take me during the summer!
3. Go On A Date
Going on dates does not apply to 2021. Stay safe and take precautions to avoid spreading COVID-19.
Later, this might include going to a movie, a sporting event, a festival, a class, a museum, a miniature golf course, a concert, a restaurant, a play or musical, a bar, etc.
4. Hike Together
Go for a walk in nature. Much like camping, this will allow you and your partner to connect with each other and nature without digital distractions.
Hiking is my absolute favorite activity. Hint!
5. Massage
Give your love a massage. Please don’t buy them a massage; hello, COVID-19. With their consent, put your hands on their back and give them a good rub.
6. Play Games Together
Buy your partner a game, like this Forest Stewardship Certified wooden Tangram Double game–or find a game you already have–and play it with them!
My partner and I enjoy the games Roll For It and Qwirkle.
7. Thoughtfully Packed Outdoor Picnic
I live in Wisconsin, so it is too cold for picnics in February, but if you live somewhere warmer, a picnic would be so romantic, and you can do it waste-free!
With a nice picnic set, you can altogether avoid disposable cutlery, dishes, and napkins. You can start a tradition and reuse the assemblage for picnics throughout the year and for years to come!
I have my grandmother’s old wicker picnic basket, and I cannot wait to use it.
8. Watch a Movie or TV Show Together
Netflix and chill. Need I say more?
My partner and I are currently finally watching This Is Us; we are only five years late.
Package-Free, Reusable, and Sentimental Zero-Waste Valentine’s Day Gifts
1. Donate to Their Favorite Charity
Donate to a local charity in honor of your partner. Many organizations are doing great work on climate and environmental justice, the climate crisis, the environment, racial justice, LGBTQ+ rights, violence prevention, food distribution, shelters, etc.
If you can’t find a local org. to support, there are many great national or international groups, including the following:
– Earthjustice
– Environmental Defense Fund
– Friends of the Earth
– Greenpeace
– National Audubon Society
– National Wildlife Federation
– Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
– Rainforest Alliance
– Sierra Club
– The Nature Conservancy
– Wildlife Conservation Society
– 350.org
2. Ethically-Sourced, Up-cycled Jewelry
Jewelry is a popular Valentine’s Day gift. If you are opting to give your loved one jewelry, try to find jewelry that uses ethically-sourced, recycled materials, if possible.
3. Make a Handmade (Recyclable) Card
Tell your love all of the reasons you love them. Use their favorite colors, and make it meaningful. No plastic glitter, please!
4. Potted Plant
If you give them a plant, your love will keep the entire gift, there will be no packaging waste, and if the plant eventually dies, they can compost it. Nowhere to put a plant? Consider getting this Forest Stewardship Certified indoor/outdoor, multi-tiered plant stand to put it on.
I adore my snake plant. Snake plants are particularly easy to care for.
5. Write a Love Poem or Song
Not super creative? That’s okay. You can buy a renowned book of love poems and read some of your favorites!
My partner can sing and play guitar, so I really want an original love song for Valentine’s Day. Hint!
Avoid
Try to avoid stuffed animals made of synthetic fibers; they shed microplastics into the environment. Also, skip flower bouquets wrapped in plastic.
Do you have any zero-waste Valentine’s Day gift ideas? Or, have you tried any of my suggestions? Let me know in the comments below or on Facebook or Instagram @WildSustainability!
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