Sustainability & Valentine's Day
With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, most are likely looking for a great gift option or wonderful experience for their significant other or friends and families. Celebrating Valentine’s Day with traditional gift-giving practices may not be the most environmentally sustainable choice. To promote an eco-friendlier approach, here are some thoughtful alternatives that not only align with your budget but also offer the same sense of gratification!
1. Support Local
There is a plethora of experiences in Fort Collins that make for a romantic, fun Valentine’s Day gift. For example, if candy is your forte, support local businesses in Fort Collins such as The Cupboard, Nuance Chocolate, Mary’s Mountain Cookies, etc. There are many options that do not rely solely on heart-shaped boxes and red roses.
2. Upcycling
Thrifted goods or antiques are a great way to show appreciation for your significant other’s styles/interests. There is a myriad of stores that specialize in this, close to CSU campus, linked below! This helps to mitigate waste and comes cheaper than buying new clothing or decor.
3. Sustainable Gifts
Flowers wither and wilt over time, constituting a huge amount of resource waste to grow them each Valentine season. An alternative and more long-lasting, sustainable substitute is the new LEGO flower sets which provide an additional fun-filled experience for you and your significant other. Furthermore, focusing on an experience such as a night out at the Lyric or at Chipper’s Lanes can be extremely fun and relatively cheap!
4. Homemade Gifts
Crafting homemade gifts for Valentine’s Day adds a unique and heartfelt touch to the celebration, making the gesture even more special. The effort put into creating something from scratch reflects thoughtfulness and personal investment. Consider a handcrafted photo album filled with shared memories, a custom-scented candle, or a carefully curated playlist of favorite songs, each demonstrating a personalized and meaningful expression of love. Homemade gifts not only showcase creativity but also emphasize the intention and sentiment behind the gesture, creating lasting memories for the ones we cherish.