Sustainable Sweethearts: Eco-Friendly Romantic Cards
Around 25 million Valentine’s Day cards are sent on 14 February each year in the UK alone, so that’s an awful lot of trees being cut down, to be thrown in the bin. Then of course there are anniversary cards.
Of course you don’t have to send a piece of paper to show your love. But if you do, here are some lovely cards printed on post-consumer recycled card instead, with no glitter or plastic wrap.
Although FSC-certified card is from ‘sustainable forests’, this still means old growth trees are cut down to make way for fast-growing plantations that use pesticides and don’t give food or shelter to birds and wildlife.
Only send plantable cards to pet-free homes, as many contain toxic herbs and wildflowers. Also most companies use non-native seeds, which are not good for local birds and wildlife.
Little Difference (by an Isle of Wight artist)
Little Difference is a fantastic company that produces greetings cards on recycled card (the company is co-founded by an artist from Isle of Wight). Although now based in New Zealand, the cards for UK shipping addresses are printed in Kent, to save on air miles.
Instead, this company uses profits to help fund tree-planting projects in deforestation-risk countries like Madagascar, home to more unique species than anywhere else on earth.
You can shop by occasion (including Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, any occasion (!), sympathy, new baby, new home, children, father’s day, weddings and thank you cards. Multi-packs are also sold, to stock up!
All are designed by our Isle of Wight native, and all the ‘boring stuff’ is done her husband (accounts etc). Another couple have also come on board, so this is a real ambitious project, to change the plastic-wrapped, tree-chopping-down, not-doing-much-but-make-profits greetings card industry (which often includes glitter that can’t be recycled and contains microplastics).
Alice Palace eco affection cards!
Alice Palace eco affection cards ideal for Valentine, anniversary or just to make someone’s day. Printed on recycled card, and sent in eco-friendly packaging. Blank for your own message and sent in eco envelopes, they are sold in a pack of six.
Floral eco-friendly anniversary card
This eco-friendly floral card is ideal for your Valentine, or the love of your life! It’s printed on recycled card, and sent in eco-friendly packaging (no plastic).
This eco-friendly valentine card is printed on recycled card, and sent in plastic-free eco-friendly packaging.
Cards for St. Valentine’s Day (on recycled paper)
Jade Fisher makes lovely unique Valentine greetings cards, all printed on recycled or waste paper, sent in recycled envelopes.
After Christmas Day, more cards are sent on Valentine’s Day than any other, leading to a huge waste of trees.
These cards are hand-painted in Wales and made in England.
More unique eco romantic cards
Or instead, consider these unique Valentine Cards, lovingly made in Oxfordshire and sent in plastic-free packaging.
Also as a friendly octopus or sweet berry thank you card!:
Who was Saint Valentine?
St Valent was a priest who (like Jesus) could heal people, by laying his hands on them. But when he defended the Christians at Rome (and refused to deny Christ), has was stoned and beheaded, back in the 3rd century. Not just for love, he is also the patron stain for epileptics and bee-keepers.
Some scholars believe there was more than one St Valentine, others say he had no connection to romance (this was due to Chaucer linking him with ‘courtly love traditions’ in a poem).
Valentine’s Day didn’t begin as a retail event. For a long time, it sat inside the church calendar, where saints’ days worked like signposts. They pointed people towards examples of courage and charity.
Simple ways to show your love
- Write a real letter: One page, your own words
- Cook at home: Put phones away, and talk while you eat.
- Take a proper walk: Choose a local park and go slowly.
- Do the helpful task first: The job they hate, the errand they dread
- Make something small: A playlist, a photo print, a hand-drawn card
- Offer repair: Apologise without excuses, forgive without scorekeeping.
Bigger than romance: care for community
You could visit someone who’s lonely, or ring the person who never gets calls. You could take a neighbour’s bin back in, or offer a lift, or share a meal. Some couples volunteer together, others choose a local cause and give time, not just money.
