From the infamous vegan sausage roll to that episode of Blue Planet 2 revealing the shocking extent of plastic waste, the world is finally waking up to the concerns surrounding the state of the planet we call home.
This Valentine’s Day, we’re encouraging everyone to show their love for our planet. Despite rising temperatures, declining wildlife populations and melting ice caps, it’s not all doom and gloom – we promise. There’s still time to fight climate change, and doing your bit is easier than you might think. Besides making ‘greener’ food choices and opting for two wheels instead of four, another crucial way to reduce waste, and ultimately, limit our environmental impact on Earth is by shopping sustainably.
But what exactly does sustainable shopping look like?
And how can you break the mould and start your journey towards a more sustainable lifestyle?
This Valentine’s, we’re swapping chocolates and cuddly bears for bamboo cutlery and vegan fashion. We’re saying adiós to consumerism and hola to sustainability. And we’ve curated three epic, eco-friendly gift guides to help you do the same.
Featuring eco-friendly gifts for him and her, as well as budget-friendly essentials, our three gift guides below are your ticket to a more sustainable future. And with items from as little as £10, you’ll see just how easy and affordable it is to make a positive change for our planet – without sacrificing quality, comfort or style.
Every purchase made from any brand featured in the gift guides will raise a free donation for The Vegetarian Society, Whale & Dolphin Conservation and Marine Conservation Society until Sunday 9th February. Plus, read on to find out how you can win your favourite present from the gift guides.
Eco-friendly gifts for him
Treating the special man in your life this Valentine’s? Spoil him with these eco-friendly gift ideas he’s bound to love.
The versatile fleece-lined bamboo over shirt from Bamboo Clothing is a great addition to any causal guy’s wardrobe, and is made using bamboo and organic cotton to ensure it’s breathable and soft.
Or maybe he’d prefer a modern twist on the classic Dr Martens from Tower London? The vegan men’s boots commit to being 100% vegan without sacrificing the iconic style we know and love.
If it’s self-care he’s into, the Soft Skin Shaving Kit from The Body Shop could be right up his street. Complete with a wooden shaving brush and softening shaving cream enriched with Community Trade organic aloe vera, it’s the perfect gift set for any man wanting to make more sustainable choices.
Eco-friendly gifts for her
Whether you’re trying to make more conscious shopping choices or want to treat a loved one to some sustainable fashion, jewellery or treats this Valentine’s, our eco-friendly gift guide for her has you covered.
The stylish Veja trainers from Office Shoes combine practicality, style and sustainability into one effortlessly cool shoe. Made using organic cotton and recyclable materials, this style comes in a range of colours and would fit right into the trainer collection of any style-conscious city dweller – female or male. Combine them with New Look‘s 100% vegan ‘leather’ jacket to complete the look and you’re onto an eco-friendly fashion winner.
If you want to stick to traditional gifts this 14th February, why not go for the Luxury Lilies and Chocolates from floral favourites, Bloom & Wild? They promise responsibly-sourced blooms and recyclable packaging so you can treat your partner to their favourite flowers without worrying about how your purchase is affecting the planet.
Budget-and-eco-friendly gifts
While 35% of us would be happy to pay a little extra for eco-friendly products, that’s not to say you have to break the bank to do your bit for the environment. There are plenty of budget-friendly items on the market to make your foray into sustainable shopping that bit easier- and cheaper.
Whether you’re on a tight budget this Valentine’s or want to take baby steps to a more sustainable future, the cheap and cheerful, eco-friendly essentials featured in our gift guide are a must. For more ideas check out our cheap or free Valentine’s Day ideas.
With the sleek bamboo eating set from Trouva, you’ll be eating on the go without a plastic bit of cutlery in sight. Whether you’re camping, picnicking or travelling, keep your plastic waste to a minimum without compromising on style or practicality.
Or perhaps you’re a sucker for a morning coffee on your commute? Then the Archive Archive bamboo travel mug from John Lewis is a great way to go ‘green’ on your daily caffeine fix.
Competition: Win your favourite eco-friendly gift
Have any of our sustainable gift ideas tickled your fancy? Head over to our Facebook post and drop us a comment telling us what your favourite gift from any of the gift guides is.
On Monday 10th February, we’ll be picking one lucky winner to win the present of their choice. Whether you’re eyeing up the vegan chocolate tasting kit or would love a vegan bag to add to your collection, let us know for your chance to win. Good luck!
Raise free donations for environmental charities
From Monday 3rd February to Sunday 9th February, every purchase made from any brand featured in our Love the Environment gift guides will raise a free donation for three vital charities: The Vegetarian Society, Whale & Dolphin Conservation and Marine Conservation Society.
To fight back against climate change, we don’t need a handful of people doing sustainable living perfectly, we need millions of people doing it imperfectly. After all, it’s small changes that make a big difference.
This Valentine’s Day, why not buck the trend and shout loud and proud about your love for the environment? Have a read of our infographic below to see just how easy it is to start shopping sustainably.
Competition and donation terms and conditions
The competition is not linked to Facebook and is not sponsored, supported or organised in any way by Facebook.
Every participant who comments on the Facebook post to enter automatically agrees to these terms and conditions.
The competition runs 03/02/2020 to 09/02/2020 at 23.59. The automatic determination of the winner takes place on the following day.
The winners will be contacted on Facebook by Savoo, and has one week to respond with their contact details.
One person wins one gift from one gift guide.
The winner is responsible for paying any additional costs.
Entrants must be aged 18 or over.
Proof of identity and age may be required.
No responsibility can be accepted for entries lost, delayed or corrupted, or due to computer error in transit.
The prizes are as stated, are not transferable to another individual and no cash or other alternatives will be offered. Also the winner will not be able to receive a cash refund for any amount unspent.
In no case can a cash payment of the voucher be made.
The participants’ data will not be passed on to third parties and will only be used for the processing of the competition.
From 03/02/2020 to 09/02/2020, any purchase made at TOWER London, Bamboo Clothing, The Body Shop, All Saints, John Lewis, New Look, Monica Vinader, Accessorize, Office Shoes, Bloom & Wild, People Tree, Trouva, Green People, Natural Collection, or Burton will raise a 5p donation. The final donation amount will be split evenly between The Vegetarian Society, Whale & Dolphin Conservation and Marine Conservation Society.
