As Valentine’s Day approach, many romantics across Wales will be sending cards and buying gifts for their loved ones.
This year, Newport City Council (NCC), in partnership with Waste Awareness Wales, is encouraging couples to show they care with some old fashioned romance to help save money and the environment.
Rather than extravagantly wrapped bouquets of flowers and over-packaged chocolates, NCC has suggested some ways to spoil your beau without generating piles of rubbish.
A council spokesperson from NCC said, “Romantic and thoughtful gifts don’t need to cost the earth so why not try thinking outside the box this year to help reduce what you spend, and ultimately reduce the waste you produce.
“Why not treat your loved one to a ‘waste-free’ gift such as a surprise day out, tickets to see a band or a show or a romantic walk in the countryside.
Here are some ways to show your love for the environment when thinking about a gift for your loved one:
Top tips from Waste Awareness Wales:
- For a green-alternative to a shop-bought card, buy one made from recycled paper, or for the personal touch, try making your own.
- Other eco-friendly gifts such as recycled glass hearts can be found at www.greenglassmountain.com
- If you’re buying chocolates, try to avoid those that are excessively packaged, or even better, try making your own at home.
- A bunch of flowers is one of the most traditional ways of showing your love on Santes Dwynen or Valentine’s Day – so pick the best of the bunch by buying local to reduce the packaging and transport miles associated with those delivered from online florists.
- Although flowers can be composted, for a longer-lasting alternative, go for a pretty plant such as a mini rose bush or an orchid that will keep on growing.
- Be creative and think of ways to impress your valentine such as cooking a meal at home or baking their favourite cake. And don’t forget to recycle or compost any leftovers!
- Other waste-free gift ideas could include a weekend away, a trip to the cinema, a romantic walk along the coast or tickets to see a show.
- Take a look at Oxfam’s unwrapped scheme for an imaginative and ethical way to spread the love: www.oxfam.org.uk/unwrapped
- Instead of buying a CD wrapped in plastic packaging, how about an online gift token where they can download the album for their MP3 player instead?
