January is nearly at its end - it’s taken a while, and January 2021 has felt as though it’s lasted a thousand years. But with the end of January, we come closer to Spring; snowdrops and tulips bring colour to our gardens and our daily walks, and love is still in the air. 

Valentine’s Day, whether you’re a Valentine cynic or not, is the perfect excuse to tell people that you love them. Do you need a reason? No. But life gets busy and sometimes when times are hard, we forget. So don’t think of Valentine’s Day just for those you share a gym membership with, but for your friends and family who need love more than ever.

With all other holidays that involve cards, gifts and wrapping paper, Valentine’s Day comes with a lot of waste. According to DS Smith, “Around 25 million Valentine’s Day cards are sent in the UK each year, equivalent to more than 8,000 trees” We seriously need every tree to help reverse the effects of climate change, so try and pick a sustainable option for your post-able love this year. 

We’ve put together some of our favourite Valentine’s Day cards that have a sustainable edge and if you order now, will arrive by the big day. 

All of the cards below we’ve chosen because we love them and are not affiliated with us i.e. we don’t profit from your clicks - so enjoy!

From PAPIER

All of PAPIER’s cards are sourced from responsibly managed, FSC-certified forests and these cards do not contain any glitter or plastic. Also, all of their card’s packagings are recyclable, which is a huge relief when buying online. 

We love this Love is Love design available through Papier, by E. Frances Paper which is a family studio run by a cousin and two sisters, named after their two beloved grandmothers. 

This Love is Love design is perfect for sending to anyone you love on Valentine’s Day. 

It’s been a tough year for love; being separated from those we care about and being cooped up with those we adore. Tensions have been high and with all the stress of lockdowns and pandemics, the smallest things can set us off.  

That’s why we love this design available through PAPIER and designed by Smudge Ink. Smudge Ink’s cards are made to make you smile, and this Perfectly Loaded Dishwasher Card does just that!

Another fantastic watercolour print card from E. Frances Paper via PAPIER is this beautiful Berry Valentine Card; reminding us of warm Summer days yet to come and perfect for the sweetest people in our life. 

If you order through PAPIER, you can also customise the inside of your card with your own message or leave it blank - creating the perfect option if you want to send a sustainable, beautiful card to a loved one who is far away.

From ETSY

Oh, how we LOVE seed paper! The perfect way to send a sustainable card that will literally live on and help support the environment by growing wildflowers and encouraging bees. This set of Handmade Seed Paper Valentine’s Day Cards by We Make Garden Crafts on Etsy, make a fabulous card and a gift all in one. 

Fancy something a little topical? Has your sense of humour kept you going during the pandemic? How about this Recycled Valentine’s Day Lockdown Card? Make it a historic Valentine’s Day card for you and your locked-down loved one with this illustrated card by Spill the Ink on Etsy. 

These cards also come with a recyclable envelope, perfect for a sustainable memento of your love.

From ECO-FRIENDLY CARDS

All of the cards sold through Eco-Friendly Cards are made of 100% recycled paper and seeds meaning that all of their cards are plantable and, just like the seed paper cards, once planted will bloom into happy wildflowers.

We love this Love Birds card; while advertised as an engagement card, how can you not let out an audible ‘Aww’ at these purple, gorgeous love birds?

We all need a little pick-me-up at the start of 2021, and Valentine’s Day is a great day to cheer up your loved ones. Rainbows stand for so many things, from the LGBTQ+ community, to showing our support for the NHS, happiness in general, and as a reminder that sunshine comes after the rain. 

That’s why we love this Rainbow card from Eco-Friendly Cards; a perfect way to bring a smile to someone’s face, especially as after it’s planted, flowers will grow with sunshine and rain.

From PEACE WITH THE WILD

So we’ve talked about glitter a fair bit, especially at Christmas. While the sparkly stuff is great, it’s often made of a non-biodegradable plastic which we all know, is bad news. If you want to learn more about why glitter is terrible, check out our blog Why We Should Avoid Glitter.

That’s why we love brands and creatives that are finding ways to include eco-friendly glitter in their products.  

There’s nothing like a little playful banter on Valentine’s Day. Show your special weirdo that you love them with this Love You, You Weirdo Valentine’s Day card created by A Beautiful Weirdo. Their cards are 100% plastic-free, vegan and cruelty-free, and are sent with biodegradable and compostable home packaging which includes a small sachet of eco glitter. Woo!

Another card that we love from A Beautiful Weirdo is this Love is Love Valentine’s Card that brings in those gorgeous rainbow vibes once more and comes with a fun glitter sachet.

A Beautiful Weirdo Eco glitter is an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional plastic-based glitter. This particular biodegradable glitter uses plant material as its basis rather than polyester and will naturally degrade into harmless substances in the environment.

From WE EARTH LONDON 

We Earth London, where do we begin? Not only do you have WONDERFUL taste in eco-friendly wrapping paper (we love you!), but you have some of the most gorgeous eco-friendly products on the market. 

This eco-friendly card from Rose + Daff is cute and punny - what more could you want? You want it to be sustainable? Check!

All cards from Rose + Daff have been illustrated, painted and edited in Wales by their ethical card designer. 

Another beautiful card by Rose + Daff is this 100% Nuts Card. Their cards are plastic-free and made using 100% recycled post-consumer waste, making it a great eco-friendly greeting cards for Valentines and random acts of romanticism! 

Have you both enjoyed Veganuary so much that you’ve gone full time? Why not celebrate your vegan love with this gorgeous vegan in-joke card. Not only that but this Vegan Valentine’s Card from Rose + Daff, available from We Earth London is entirely recyclable and eco-friendly.

Need to Cheer Up Your Mates?

Are you looking to cheer up your friends this Valentines’ Day? How about a card that looks forward to days ahead? These Until We Hug Again cards from PAPIER are perfect for sending to those you can’t wait to squeeze one day. Designed by the exception Elsa Rose Frere who is based in Somerset and finds her everyday inspiration life, capturing humorous moments we can all relate to.

Other Ideas

If you want to an alternative to Valentine’s Cards, why not make a personalised playlist on Spotify for your favourite person?

Or perhaps a plant for you both to care for during lockdown?

If you want something lasting, plant a tree for your significant other. Scientists say that planting trees is one of the best things we can do to change the climate crisis outcome, so change the world and make your partner smile this Valentine’s Day.

If you’re looking to wrap your gift sustainably, make sure to shop our Sweet Love eco-friendly wrapping paper which is vegan and made with recycled materials.

Whatever you do, have a wonderful Valentine’s Day! Mwah x