Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council is encouraging residents to have their most sustainable, eco-friendly Valentine’s Day yet!
With preparations underway and many of us on the look-out for that special gift, why not try out some sustainable alternatives?
With a few simple ideas, you can significantly decrease your waste and carbon footprint while still enjoying this special day!
Buy a recyclable card or make your own
Many paper-based cards cannot be recycled if they are decorated with glitter, ribbons and other embellishments. Make sure you choose a card that is only made of paper, use an e-card or be artistic for your loved one and make a nice DIY card from recycled paper. These cards can then be recycled in your green bin.
Buy Fairtrade chocolate
Buy Fairtrade chocolate which is widely available in most supermarkets. It’s easily recognisable by its famous green, blue and black round logo. Fairtrade chocolate is made with cocca from sustainable farming, paying farmers a living wage and fighting exploitation of local communities and resources, such as illegal deforestation and wildlife habitat destruction.
Cook a meal/eat locally
Skip the over-priced plastic wrapped convenience foods and over-the-top restaurants. Settle in for a home-cooked farm to fork meal, made with fresh and organic produce. If you decide to go out for meal why not support local businesses wh0 source fresh local ingredients.
Buy local
Buy local! This not only supports your local shops and economy but it also cuts down on transport emissions. Gifting membership of magazines, cinema tickets or vouchers to favourite restaurants can be a great alternative while doing your bit for the environment.
Gift a plant
Who doesn’t love to receive a bouquet of fresh flowers on Valentine’s Day?! Although a lovely token, these simple bunches of flowers can pick up a lot of air miles to arrive at our doorsteps. It has been estimated that nearly 90% of flowers sold in the UK alone are imported – which gives them an incredibly high carbon footprint. A living plant can be a great alternative to flowers or you can also find potted options like orchids which will live longer than cut flowers.
We can all play a part to protect our planet this Valentine’s Day!
