Whether it's for your great love, a secret crush or your ex is: a bunch of flowers remains a popular choice on Valentine's Day. But those pretty bouquets often leave quite a mark on our planet, in a negative sense, unfortunately. And so we have five tips to make a bouquet of flowers on Valentine's Day just a little greener. And greener is better. This is how to give a Valentine's Day bouquet with love, also for the planet!
A bunch of CO2 emissions
A bunch of flowers may seem like a green gift - after all, flowers grow in nature, right? But unfortunately that is not true of cultivated ornamental flowers. Growing and transporting those smelling flowers puts a lot of strain on our planet. Many flowers are grown in heated greenhouses that consume a lot of natural gas, resulting in considerable CO2 emissions. In addition, many flowers also come from warm regions such as Africa, which means they travel thousands of kilometres by plane before arriving at your Valentine's doorstep.
Ai, poison on your Valentine's Day bouquet
But the flower issue is bigger. For those perfect, insect-free flowers, a hefty amount of pesticides is often used. So much so that your Valentine bouquet when it has finished blooming is officially not allowed in the kitchen and garden waste, but has to go in the residual waste. And those pesticides are not only detrimental to biodiversity and composting, but also pose a health risk, especially for workers at- and residents around nurseries. Research has shown a link between exposure to them and serious diseases such as Parkinson's. Suddenly surprising your sweetheart with a bunch of poison sounds a lot less romantic, right?
Ideas for sustainable flowers on Valentine's Day
Although... with a little creativity, there are plenty of alternatives to surprise your loved one with a lasting flower. Our ideas, here they come!
Dry flowers
We are big fans of dried flowers. They have shed their stuffy image - remember potpourri - long ago. No way, dried flowers are beautiful and hip! Our fingers are crossed for such a bunch from a secret love this year. And another advantage: they last for months - correction: years - and thus bring colour and atmosphere into your home. No need to be ashamed of a bouquet of dried flowers. Go to your local florist or find an online florist who offers beautiful bouquets. Plenty of choice!
Felt flowers
Felt flowers are truly original! They are handmade from felt - duhh - and never perish. The nice thing is that you can get to work yourself to make a unique bunch, which makes your gift extra special. Don't have time or don't feel like crafting yourself? Fortunately, there are craftspeople like Daphne from Felt florist, customising those beautiful felt flowers. With this original alternative, you'll hit 100% this Valentine's Day. Our hearts would have captured you with it.
A vase with felt flowers from the Felt Florist and preparing bouquets with dried flowers. These bouquets are in natural tones, but you also have very colourful bouquets with dried flowers.
Artificial flowers
These days, artificial flowers can hardly be distinguished from real ones. They brighten up your home and last for years, without you having to take care of them. Do you think it's a shame your Valentine always has to look at the same bunch? Then a subscription at Reflower's flower library a cosy idea. At this flower library, you can rent artificial flowers and vases and change them as often as you like. We think this is a top gift to surprise your partner you live with. We say that for your sake: then you'll get a lot of viewing pleasure from it yourself. You can also buy a lasting bunch of artificial flowers. Take a look at Botané.
Home-made flowers
What could be more personal than a homemade gift? For example, you can use old clothes or fabric scraps to craft beautiful flowers. Our DIY expert Melanie shows step by step how to make flowers from old jeans. With home-made flowers, you give an original gift that is truly made with love.
A sustainable little flower on Valentine's Day are these single flowers made from an old pair of jeans. You're instantly sold anyway when this Valentine's Day bouquet arrives on your doorstep as a surprise?
Organic tulips from the Netherlands
Still want to go for real flowers? Then choose organic tulips from the Netherlands. According to Milieu Centraal's flower calendar, this is the most climate-friendly flower in early spring, despite still coming from a greenhouse (tulips only grow in Dutch fields in April). And because they grow here, they don't have to travel thousands of kilometres by plane. Organic tulips are the sustainable choice if you want a fresh bunch in your home that makes both your Valentine and the planet happy.
Your sustainable flower on Valentine's Day?
If you have another creative and sustainable idea for a Valentine's Day bouquet, let us know! Or even better: share your green flower moment in your stories and tag us, @thegreenlist.nl. We look forward to hearing your sustainable tips and inspiration!
More sustainable tips for Valentine's Day?
- If you're in a crafting mood, you can make these DIY hearts from old magazines take a look.
- Also cute is a handmade card Of an old magazine with matching envelope.
- Of course, you can also take your Valentine to a sustainable restaurant such as Restaurant de Kas in Amsterdam or Le Jardin restaurant In Utrecht.
Sources: AD.nl, parkinson's association.nl, tulip.nl. Photo credits: Angela de Vlaming (main image), felt flowers: Felt florist Daphne Engelke, dried flowers Karolina Grabowska (Pexels), DIY flowers from jeans: Melanie de Oliveira.
