A Drop of Water Turns These Kid-Approved Valentine's Day Cards Into Sponges

Giving and receiving

Valentine's Day cards as a kid is a core memory for many. I still remember the Space Jam cards I was thrilled to give my classmates back in the day. But the sad reality is 99% of the billions of V-Day cards given over the years were thrown away after the holiday, contributing to landfill waste. That's exactly why this eco-friendly

pop-up sponge alternative is such a win.

Traditional Valentine's Day cards are made from paper. Oftentimes, they're also glossy, glittery, or covered with stickers or other embellishments, which makes them

impossible to recycle. That's why I'm obsessed with the idea of kids dropping an eco-alternative into their friends' Valentine boxes at school.

Pop-Up Sponge Valentine's Day Cards, aka

Wishpops, look like regular Valentine's Day cards: They have cute phrases (like "You're Turtley Awesome"—cue the awws!) and you can write a special message on the back with a pen for the recipient. But unlike paper cards that get trashed, these get a second life as a reusable sponge.

You simply dip the Wishpop in water and it expands to double its size right before your eyes. Kiddos can play with them, or you can use them to clean up spills or do the dishes. At the end of their life, toss them in the

compost—they're completely

biodegradable and won't contribute to landfill waste. There's also a grownup version—a

Valentine's Day greeting card that transforms into a reusable dishcloth that replaces up to 17 rolls of paper towels.

There are plenty of ways to make your Valentine's Day celebrations more sustainable (from

sourcing ethical jewelry to

avoiding roses), but this one is certainly the most fun.