Green Tips for an Eco Friendly Valentine's Day

Have you been looking for love in all the wrong places? Well look no further! Green love is the love that gives back to you and to the planet. While traditional gestures on Valentine’s Day include a card, flowers, and some chocolate, there are eco friendly ways to celebrate the day.

If you are opting for the traditional route, consider selecting eco friendly alternatives:

• Cards: consider giving a recycled card or send e-cards from BlueMountain or Hallmark.   For some other ideas check out Kate Spade’s e-cards or Ojolie.
• Flowers: Buy local, organic flowers or visit Organic Bouquet for sustainable flowers and wreaths.
• Chocolate:   Consider purchasing organic chocolate and from manufacturers that support Fair Trade, like Sweet Earth Organic Chocolate. Or you can do better by purchasing Endangered Species Chocolate. 10% of each sale goes towards protecting animals and their habitat.

If you are thinking about dinner and some romance, either prepare an organic meal or find a local restaurant serving organic prepared meals.  Enjoy your meal by candlelight using organic soy candles or beeswax candles.  Try out some organic bath products, room scents, and aromatherapy to set the mood.

If none of the above ideas appeal to you, then other gift ideas include giving a gift certificate for a service, like a massage, yoga package, or holistic facial. Then your gift is doing two things: it makes your sweetie happy and supports a local business.

Happy Valentine’s Day to you!

Julie Urlaub

Julie Urlaub is Founder & Managing Partner of Taiga Company, a sustainability consulting firm located in Houston, Texas dedicated to accelerating the integration of sustainability concepts in business.  Today, Julie speaks, writes, and advises clients on a variety of issues related to the intersection between environmental stewardship,  and sustainable business practices. Her writing has been featured in SocialYell’s Corporate Advice, the GreenEcomonyPost, the Business Exchange and, the ThinkGreenAlliance. Connect with Taiga Company on Facebook and Twitter. Also Find Julie on LinkedIn.