Happy Valentine’s Day! Or should I say Happy Hallmark Day? Hallmark describes Valentine’s Day as the second-largest holiday for exchanging greeting cards. 144 million cards are exchanged each year and this number does not include the cards that kids exchange in their classrooms. So just think, billions of cards are produced every Valentine’s Day season to support the holiday and tossed out a few days later. Take a moment to find ways we can all make a difference and discover the many initiatives that support a greener Valentine’s Day.
When making your Valentine’s Day purchases, think about what you’re buying. Cards are manufactured through the use of trees, water, bleach, dye, and transportation, and in the end most of them end up in the landfill. So make a difference this year! Make your own cards and envelopes, send e-cards, or purchase cards made out of recycled paper which can be found at Papyrus and Hallmark. And of course, don’t forget to recycle!
You can also make this Valentine’s Day greener by purchasing eco-friendly gifts for your loved ones. Forget about those cardboard boxes filled with chocolate and consider organic chocolates. Little do you know, 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate are sold each year! Although the majority of the chocolate is probably eaten, the boxes tend to end up in a landfill. So do the environment a favor this year and think about how you can make your Valentine’s Day more sustainable.
Sources:
http://www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/196/1/A-green-Valentines-Day.html
http://newsroom.hallmark.com/Product/Valentines-Day-Cards
