Valentine's Gifts

Valentine's Day is over, but let's take ourselves back to the question, the central theme of the day: how do we show our appreciation and love for those dearest to us?

On this day, some of the most common gifts people buy to show their love (that are guaranteed to work) are cards and roses (a box of chocolates is also a close competitor).

Nonetheless, have you ever wondered where these come from, who makes these pretty items, or the timeless traditions that affect our tastes as the consumer/giver today?

Whether or not you have, let's briefly explore the origins of these two staple giftbag items and their climate impacts:

1) Cards!

• About 145 million Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged each year in the US, making it the second largest card-sending holiday after Christmas

  • The tradition of sending cards on Valentine's Day actually became popular in 1800s Britain

  • Although this is very cool, the excessive card sending has taken a negative toll on the environment, as the production of millions of cards can sadly contribute to deforestation if the company does not prioritize replacing the felled trees

    • To reduce the impact, we can use recycled paper, digital cards, and reusable packaging :-)

2) Roses!

• A lot of roses have a high carbon footprint

  • This varies from location to location, but each rose grown in the Netherlands contributes an average of around 2.91k of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. This is because Dutch roses are grown in heated or refrigerated greenhouses that require artificial light, heat, and cooling to maintain the controlled environmental conditions.

  • Meanwhile, a rose grown on a farm in Kenya contributes only 0.5 kg of carbon dioxide. Kenyan hot houses that are used to grow roses do not use artificial lighting or heating, and most of the farmworkers choose to cycle or walk to work. 

  • However, even this does not factor in the carbon dioxide released by international transport. Some roses travel by cargo plane, some by passenger jets, and some by sea.

  • The most sustainable way to buy roses is by growing them in your backyard or buying them locally. For example, if you live in northeast USA, roses are able to be grown outdoors very easily; peak blooming season is around June.

These are just some of the considerations you could make for the next Valentine's Day or even when you just want to give a little extra something to a loved one. Because environmental consciousness is just a small part of the concept to thoughtfully give, show love, connect and make decisions amidst a fast-paced society.

Written by Jeongwon Kim and Gianna Kim

Edited by Meera Naveen

Works Cited:

Images from Wix Media.