5 Ways to Be a Conscious Consumer on Valentine's Day
By Blythe Hill
I have a love/hate relationship with Valentine’s day. I love a day to celebrate love, I love the idea that the whole world is celebrating love together, and I even love the pink and red hearts that flood marketing emails and grocery stores. At the same time, February 14th is a day that has been steeped in consumerism. Every year, whether out of love or obligation, people buy chocolates, flowers, jewelry, and more for the special people in their lives. In spite of the enmeshment of consumerism with Valentine’s Day, it is possible to approach this holiday ethically and consciously.
In order to meet the demand for chocolate created by Valentine’s day and other holidays–and in order to keep the retail cost of chocolate down– the chocolate industry turns a blind eye to its own reliance on child labor. About 60% of the cocoa in our world comes from Ghana and the Ivory Coast; this is where an estimated 2.1 million children are forced to work 10-hour days on cocoa plantations.
This is why any attempt to shop consciously matters.
So, how do we celebrate this holiday without inadvertently contributing to exploitation? Here are five ways to be a conscious consumer on Valentine’s Day:
Make gifts, don’t buy them. Whether it’s a handmade card with a thoughtful message, a hand knit beanie, or a home cooked meal, nothing shows you care like putting in the time and energy to make a gift.
If you do shop, shop small. So, you may not be a crafter. Can you pay a crafty friend to make a thoughtful gift, or buy from a local artist? Shoppers will spend an estimated $24.7 billion this Valentine’s Day. Shopping small is one way to support small companies that are in desperate need of business as COVID rages on. Take a look at our list of Black-owned businesses to shop for your loved ones.
Buy chocolate that is Fair Trade. Fair Trade certification protects workers, farmers and their communities.
Enjoy dinner at home. My husband and I celebrate Valentine’s Day every year by eating a picnic dinner inside a living room fort–it’s super fun and surprisingly romantic. Restaurants have taken a hit during COVID. If you’re celebrating over a meal, support a local restaurant by ordering take out.
Say “I love you” in other ways. There are so many ways to show you care that don’t involve shopping. You can plan a hike in nature, offer a neck massage, write a short story together, make prank phone calls together, watch a movie….the list goes on and only ends where your imagination does.
Can you think of other ways to celebrate Valentine’s day mindfully? We’d love to hear your ideas in the comments below.