| February 2008 Share a Happy Green Valentine's Day Spread the Eco-Friendly Love For some, Valentine’s Day is a welcome burst of warmth and love during a cold time of the year. For others, the holiday is a headache, a hassle of obligations and frenzied consumer spending. But take heart: you need not get lost in a sea of stale candy hearts, red packaging and wilted white flowers. You can go green and still share love with friends and family! The average consumer spends j ust over $100 on Valentine’s Day, according to the National Retail Federation, with total sales approaching $14 billion. Not surprisingly, men spend more (nearly $140), while women spend about $70. What does that get us? Nearly 214 million roses, $2.5 billion in jewelry, 180 million cards, 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate, tons of stuffed animals and more. Take these suggestions to decrease your consumer footprint, while showing love for the important people in your life, as well as the Earth: Fun Flowers Valentine’s Day is the biggest event of the year for the floral industry, but unfortunately that can mean clouds of toxic pesticides sprayed upon fields far and near, harming waterways, soil and air quality and worker health. Luckily, a growing number of organically raised flowers are becoming available online, in health food stores and at better florists. Sweet, Sweet Chocolate With its rich flavor and purported mood-enhancing ingredients, real chocolate is truly a divine treat. When you shop, aim for organic and fair trade brands (found at natural foods stores, online and now at major groceries), which ensure that tropical forests and workers receive important safeguards. You don’t want your bon bons to be responsible for loss of bonobo habitat. Sparkling Jewelry The good thing about jewelry is that it can last for generations; the bad thing is that it can result in strip-mined, toxic earth and poisoned workers. Buy vintage to cut out that impact, or shop from fair trade dealers, which ensure worker rights and protections. Care-free Cards The original and classic “I Love You” is the paper Valentine. So make yours out of recycled content! Not only is recycled paper widely available, but you can also get tree-free versions made from hemp, kenaf and other fibers. Beautiful cards are now preprinted on the greener material, or get crafty and make your own.. | 
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