A day that is supposed to have a big impact on the heart also has a big impact on the planet. BIGresearch estimates that consumers will spend just under $15 billion on Valentine’s Day purchases this year (down more than 15% from last year). Such large-scale consumption also comes at the expense of the planet. So before you empty your wallet, consider a couple of observations regarding two of Cupid’s best sellers.
Greeting Cards - According to Hallmark, 188 million Valentine’s Day cards are purchased each year. That’s a lot of trees! Not to mention where they likely end up after sitting around the house for a few days.
Flowers - Without even examining the growing practices (pesticides, fair labor), don’t forget about emissions. Your flowers have likely traveled a long way. The Census Bureau states that U.S. imports of cut flowers from Columbia exceeded $300 million in 2007.
I’m not even beginning to scratch the heart-shaped surface. Just think about the packaging surrounding all of these gifts. I haven’t taken the time to research the decomposition process of those shiny balloons that are so popular this time of year.
A Better Way - Should we boycott the holiday of love? I personally wouldn’t recommend it. Perhaps a better way to celebrate is the answer.
The folks at Green Living Tips have compiled a list of suggestions to help you make informed decisions as you shop. Their suggestions include purchasing natural perfumes and fragrances, and finding ecologically and socially responsible sources of gemstones.
The Nature Conservancy has made eco-conscious gift-giving just a click away! Their Green Gift Guide makes it easy to pass on consumption and honor your valentine by adopting an acre in Australia, or adopting coral reefs in Palau. You can also use this site to send a paperless e-card. If you are still looking for something more traditional, the Green Gift Guide also suggests ordering organic flowers or chocolates from http://www.organicbouquet.com/,
With a little knowledge and some informed decisions we can celebrate Valentine’s Day in a more sustainable way.
Got another idea? Share it by posting a comment.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
A Greener Valentine
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Oh my gosh! I never really thought about it that way at all! I can not believe how some of the littlest things that go on for Valentine’s Day actually mean you are doing more. I admit, I have not really thought about how much Valentine’s Day really impacts the environment. I never realized what really happens and I am sure that others do not know either. I definitely think that the public should know way more about this. If they did that would be a big help. Like something as little as an e-card. Wow, that did not even come across my mind. It’s pretty sad to see how big of a habit it is to just go to a store and buy a card and a gift. It would save paper first of all and it would save money. Buying those pretty flowers is even impacting the environment. Millions are picked, packaged, and sent off to stores to be sold. Not to mention, those flowers are sometime dyed. People need to know more about this and maybe find a florist nearby to get the flowers they want or maybe grow their own. On one of the links it said that around 10% of engagements are on Valentine’s Day every year, that’s a lot of gold, silver, and diamonds. No one really even realizes, it needs to get out to the public.
ReplyDeleteI never really thought about how big a holiday valentines day was commercially. The articles tell how much paper is used to make the cards, envelopes, and boxes for chocolates, not to mention packaging for mail, like flower boxes. This would definitely be an environmental issue since so many resources are being depleted just for one day! I went into Target last week, and everything in the entire store was red, pink, and white. After reading these articles, it hits me how much we're bombarded with propaganda to buy things for valentines day. In advertising alone for valentines day, so many resources are used, like posters in store windows, only to be thrown away two weeks later. The articles mentioned e-cards or organically grown flowers as a safe idea, but the truth is that you could really do anything for valentines day, and whatever you decided to do could be environmentally friendly, if people would only take the time to be creative and think about the consequences first. It would definitely be easier to grab a box of chocolate and a card, but putting some effort into valentines would not only be globally advantageous, but you'd also get some Kudos.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to get away from a tradition that has been carried on for a long time, (chocolates and cards.) No one ever stops to think of how big of an impact just one day can be. It's unreal to think about all the energy that goes into five minutes of joy. But having this knowledge allows us to make new traditions. Maybe instead of buying all of these cheap cards and chocolates, people could go to dinner or do something more active. Anything that doesn't produce/consume as much paper waste and trees that are involved in our normal tradition. I think changing up Valentine's Day is a great idea, and I also think that it would be impossible to get rid of Valentine's Day.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty traditional when it comes to holidays- turkey on Thanksgiving, fireworks on the 4th of July, dressing up in costumes on Halloween; so when it comes to Valentine's Day, I would probably be pretty disappointed if Ben got me an acre of Austrailia. :) I was pretty impressed with the concept of it all but really, a box of chocolates with roses vs. adopting coral reefs in Palau? There's really no difficulty in answering that question for me. I did like the ideas about the guys making a card out of recyled paper and about getting organically grown flowers. I agree with Spencer that it's hard to get away from tradition- box of chocolate/card. Perhaps, if there were less "extreme" environmental alternatives, then more people would be more willing to "change their ways" ;)
ReplyDeleteWell has it been taken into consideration what exactly caused the fifteen percent drop in spending of the valentines items? There could be many other causes not necessarily just because the prices are higher and no one wants to pay them. Other factors that are still logical but maybe not as likely could be the drop in relationships during Valentines Day to where there is no one to spend the money on, or something else of that sort. Now if the disposal of these items was done correctly that could give support to the fifteen percent decrease which would be a good thing. Make sure more of the cards are recycled; the producer should use the recycled cards to make more cards as well as balloons for balloons. Something needs to be done with the flowers also. Have homegrown flowers at the least instead of importing them from Columbia. Disposal of those wouldn’t be so bad because they are easily composted.
ReplyDeleteI personally think because of the impact Valentine's Day has on the environment, that it's really, really stupid. This is probably the holiday that has the most negative impact on the environment.
ReplyDeleteBut whenever I get any kind of card, I keep it. I don't throw it out, because even though a person spent so little on me, at least they are showing they care. So I don't think I'm that bad when it comes to wasting paper. 188 million Valentine's Day cards are bought, but how many are made? I'm guessing the number's a lot higher.
I cannot stand store-bought flowers. I don't like the fact that they are not grown naturally. That's just tricking nature. And they are not even natural. You see people smelling store-bought flowers all the time, and they're like, "wow, these smell so good!" They smell like GRASS! If I wanted something that smells like grass, I would walk out my front door and rip a handful of grass out of the ground. So my plan for next Valentine's Day is to give my friends 50 blades of freshly cut grass. They may be lacking in color, but not in smell.
I mean, jeez, let's spend five dollars on a pretty-looking red rose that smells like my tractor does after the front lawn is cut. If you really want to show someone you care, grow the flowers yourself, and cut them fresh. Freshly-cut flowers smell heavenly, and help the environment by not partaking in these silly practices.
I definetly never thought about all the environmental negatives there is on valentines day. It is kind of a stupid pointless holiday anyways. I mean yeah you want a romantic time and special date with your boyfriend or girlfriend or spouse but thats what the anniversary date is for so basically, valentines day is OVERRATED! You get dumb flowers and look at them for about 3 days and then they die and you throw them away, I mean seriously flowers are lame. The only flowers there should be are in the ground. That way they last a couple years instead of a couple days. Or you could get fake flowers if you just HAVE to have some in a vase in your house. The whole E-card thing is for sure a great idea in stead of getting your typicle paper card. For one theyre free and for two they make sounds and they move, I mean no hardcopy card can do that! So pretty much I really think everybody should try their best to have a greener valentines day.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Chelsea completely. Valentines is solely a commercial holiday because financially businesses need the extra boom between the Holidays and spring season. And no I don't hate Valentines because I'm single, I can't stand the fact that an incredible amount of paper is being wasted every year! For example, I know for a fact my grandmother in Virginia sends alot of cards out to her friends and family and yours truly every Valentines day. She has alot of friends from over the years so I am thinking she sends approximately 200 cards per holiday. 200 cards+200 envelopes=alot of paper for one 78 year-old lady. Can you imagine what the rest of the United States is doing?? I admit I am one to buy pretty flowers from the store because lets face it, we are lacking giant fields abundant in flowers in Clover, SC in February. I buy flowers store bought because they are convenient. I had no idea they are not always organically grown and contain pesticides.
ReplyDelete-Maddie
Although I never knew the extent of environment problems caused from Valentines Day, I don’t know what I would do with an acre of land halfway around the world. Valentines has been a tradition for many years and would be very disappointing if it were done away with. I do believe however, that we should consider what we buy and how much we buy of it on this holiday. A simple home-made card can say a lot, without buying the typical stuffed animal, dozen roses, and box of chocolates. Some ideas such as making cards from recycled paper could really help by saving and conserving trees around the world. Like myself, many people don’t realize that it adds up to be such an extreme for many different reasons! Maybe we could start with small changes and work our way up each year with bigger changes than the previous. I know I enjoy taking time out of my busy day to share love with the people close to me, and well, getting pampered too, don’t you?
ReplyDeleteI think that this is a major issue. I, myself, do not really care for the Valentine's Day holiday. I think that if you really love a person, you should show them in many other ways than just a card, and on everyday instead of only one. I agree with Landon, a simple homemade card made from recycled paper would do the job just as well, along with being more heart felt. Also, people can plant their own flowers, I know that isn't really ideal, but it's an idea. Even though Valentine's Day has been around for quite some time, it's never too early to cut down on the waste we will produce from multiple cards that you read once and throw them in a box. Valentine's Day probably brings in more money than other holidays, except Christmas of course, since everyone NEEDS to get their loved one flowers, candy, cards, etc. I don't see the big deal honestly. Show your love more than with just a piece a folded paper...
ReplyDeletei had no idea that this holiday would be a big impact on the environment. i thought that it would be Christmas because of the wrapping paper. For Valentines Day this year i was shopping and they had a Eco-Friendly stuffed animal. kari
ReplyDelete