Valentine’s Day may traditionally be the day we show love and appreciation for our partners, but how we choose to do that can have an enormous impact on our planet.
Did you know that out of season cut flowers have one of the largest carbon footprints per pound spent at the till? Red roses definitely aren’t a seasonal bloom in February in Cumbria and as a result many of the roses in the shops this week will have been imported from as far away as Kenya and Latin America, picking up the hefty carbon price tag of 2.4kg carbon per Kenyan cut rose, whilst a bunch of Dutch, hot-housed flowers can be as high as 32kg, (our source is the brilliant How Bad are Bananas by Mike Berners-Lee).
Even the greetings cards we choose to buy carry their own carbon footprint with a single card accounting for 140g carbon – the equivalent of travelling 4km by train. With research on Tinder indicating that more young people are prioritising strong environmental values when searching for a potential partner, it might be time to rethink our romantic gestures this season.
As a planet-friendly alternative, CAfS have created some fun digital cards on our Don’t Send Me a Card platform for you to send to your loved one, allowing you to express the same sentiments as a traditional card without the carbon. In fact, all proceeds from the sale of CAfS’ Valentine’s Day cards will go towards supporting our climate action work in Cumbria. What’s not to love?
And if you are looking for a gift that really shows how much you care, why not buy them a CAfS Gift Card? With four designs to choose from and even more climate action for Cumbria, nothing will demonstrate your love for your partner and the planet quite as much this Valentine’s.
We even have some alternative date ideas for you and your partner this month. Firstly, CAfS are hosting an evening with award-winning climate photographer Ashley Cooper at the Keswick Alhambra on 15th February. It should be fascinating. Click here to find out more and book.
Or if you’re looking for a couple-friendly challenge, why not sign up to our Keswick and Coniston to Barrow Walk Teams to raise money for local climate action in May? I’m sure long-distance walks are good for relationships, right?! Email [email protected] for more info.
Happy Valentine’s Day!