The Best Eco-Friendly Valentine's Day Gifts to Give in 2023

February is filled with pink and

red roses and heart-shaped boxes of

assorted chocolate. And with Valentine's Day sneaking up on us, it's time to start thinking about what to get your special someone.

According to the

National Retail Federation, Americans spent $23.9 billion dollars last year on gits for their loves ones. However, traditional Valentine's Day gifts—like boxed chocolates and

flower bouquets—aren't exactly eco-friendly.

But Valentine's Day doesn't have to come with an increased

carbon footprint. This year, celebrate sustainably! With this gift guide, you can

keep the planet in mind while shopping for your favorite people.

Handmade,

DIY gifts are extra special and incredibly thoughtful. Spending the time to put together a unique gift for someone you love can go a long way. Plus, if you use recycled or

upcycled materials, your handmade gift won't come with waste. Some DIY gifts may only take you 30 minutes to make and will likely save you a lot of money.

From

handmade candles to

upcycled tote bags to

hanging plant holders, the ball is in your court. You can even knit beanies, sweaters, and socks. Use this time to get creative and make something you can't purchase in-store.

Flower bouquets are one of the most popular Valentine's Day gifts. They can be bought at florists, grocery stores, and even your local corner store. But it's possible that those flowers were unethically sourced and come with increased shipping emissions. Plus, figuring out

how to keep flowers fresh isn't easy—they wilt within a week.

Instead of giving your special someone a flower bouquet, check out our favorite

cut flower alternatives! You can give someone a

potted houseplant, which lasts much longer than flowers, or you can opt for flower seeds to give your loved one the chance to start a new garden. The options are endless, and most of them last a lot longer than flowers.

If your giftee is a gardening enthusiast, you can also opt to give them an herb—like an

organic basil herb garden kit or a

lavender mini herb grow kit. The sets have everything they'll need to get started.

If you can't say no to the colorful bouquet, be sure to purchase

ethically sourced flowers. Before purchasing, check for a

Fair Trade label.

Expressing self-love is just as important as spreading love to others. This Valentine's Day, assemble yourself or your loved one a self-care gift set.

Start with an all-natural,

non-toxic candle scented with essential oils. Throw in some cozy,

ethically-made socks and a

soothing lotion bar. You could also add a soothing drink, like a

matcha latte kit that comes complete with a reusable ceramic mug. Between these items, you've got a self-care kit that's meant to help unwind, relax, and destress.

Chocolates and desserts are Valentine's Day must-haves. In fact, Americans consume about

58 million pounds of chocolate during the week of Valentine's Day. But the chocolate industry isn't the most sustainable one, with ties to deforestation and unethical labor practices.

If you're looking to avoid potentially unsustainable chocolates this year, but still want to give your loved one something sweet, try a sustainable baking mix like the

oat chocolate chip cookie mix. It contains upcycled ingredients, helping keep waste out of the landfill.

If you still want some heart-shaped, fudge-filled chocolates, we don't blame you! They're a Valentine's Day staple, after all.

However, you can opt for ethically sourced chocolates that come in

recyclable packaging. When shopping for the perfect chocolate assortment, also always check for Fair Trade labels to ensure the product was produced with the workers and environment in mind.

Additionally, avoid packaging that contains a combination of

paper, plastic, and glitters. While most chocolate packagings are gorgeous to look at, they're extremely

hard to recycle; thus, they'll get sent to the landfill. Keep the packaging simple, and check for chocolate boxes made with upcycled or recycled materials.

Valentine's Day isn't just about the chocolates and the flowers. If you're looking to buy a bottle of wine this holiday, be sure to find

sustainable wines. To do this, check the labels! And if you're not sure what the labels mean, check out our

go-to guide.

To go with your wine, you'll need a set of glasses. This set of

stemless wine glasses was made of recycled glass and handblown in Tonalá, Mexico.