As Valentine’s Day rolls around, you might be getting ready to pick out the perfect gift for your partner. This year, consider something extra thoughtful by supporting local businesses and shopping sustainably.
1. Shop Local
When you spend money at Milwaukee businesses, a large amount of that money goes back into our community. For every $100 spent at a local business, an average of $68 remains in the local economy, according to a study by the American Independent Business Alliance. Local business owners often pride themselves in the curation of their goods. Whether they’re hand made, homemade, or bought from small vendors, you can feel the quality difference from something bought from a big box store. By shopping locally, you also cut down your carbon footprint. The transportation of goods is responsible for a large amount of CO2 emissions. In 2020, product shipments and returns accounted for about 37% of total greenhouse gas emissions, according to Statista market data.
Consider buying from one of the 20 spots we highlighted in our Small Business Saturday shopping guide.
Tell us who you’d pick to be a Betty this year!
2. Find Recycled, Fair-Trade Jewels
Jewelry is a common Valentine’s Day gift however, it comes with major sustainability issues. Fine jewelry is made from mined metals like gold and one carat of gold releases 57 kg. of carbon, according to a report by consulting firm Frost & Sullivan. Gemstones are also an item of contention – diamond mines are often deadly, exploitive places to work and the process can lead to pollution.
Look for jewelry that is made from recycled metals, fair-trade and fair-mined. Ask your jeweler about the origins of the gemstones and check for certifications like The Kimberley Process and the Responsible Jewellery Council.
Shop Local At: Paloma Wilder, a local jeweler that makes custom pieces to order. Wilder specializes in creating “wearable stories that are kept for life” and also guarantees sustainable and ethical diamonds.
3. Skip the Roses – But Not the Flowers!
Flowers are a lovely and personalizable gift choice for Valentine’s Day. However, roses contribute to the climate crisis in ways you might not realize. Roses are out of season in February and as a result are imported to the US for the holiday, leading to about 30kg of CO2 per mixed bouquet. But fear not! There are still environmentally-friendly ways to buy your boo flowers.
Shop Local At: Wood Violet Floral Design, which takes a sustainable approach to bouquets. They only sell flowers that are in season and wrap their bouquets in paper rather than plastic. They also do not participate in flower delivery, making their services more sustainable.
4. Buy Fair-Trade Chocolate
Chocolate is a great gift for a lover with a sweet tooth. To help boost your sustainability this Valentine’s Day, make sure your chocolate is certified fair-trade. Fair trade certification helps guarantee the organizations you’re buying from are “putting people and planet first” by supporting safe working conditions, environmental protection and sustainable livelihoods.
Shop Local At: Melt Chocolates, a small, local chocolatier that produces chocolates using ingredients from local farmers. They also work in small batches to ensure less food waste and higher quality.
5. Give a Plant
Plants are a great gift for the environment – they purify air, reduce carbon dioxide and are regenerating.
Shop Local At: Clover, a female-owned, sustainable plant store. Clover aims to reduce waste by recycling old ceramic, wood, clay and glass pots and limit their carbon footprint through sourcing local plants.
