2. Make or Purchase Recycled Valentines Day Cards

For the printed cards that you are going to send, make them out of reclaimed paper if you’re the kind of person who likes to get crafty. If that’s not you, then there are plenty, plenty of options out there for purchasing Valentine’s cards made out of recycled materials.

3. Organic Flowers Only, Better Yet Get Local Flowers

Be responsible and ask your florist about the source of the flowers you’re about to buy. If you’re buying locally from a florist, opt for flowers that he or she can confirm came from local greenhouses or farms. That may mean you don’t get as “exotic”, but it does mean that you’re having an eco lovers holiday.

4. Conscious Wine and Champagne Buying

Most of us will enjoy some fine wine or champagne this Valentine’s Day. Again, do a little research. If you don’t want to simply go the organic wine route, we understand. But look into what you’re buying. Are they using sustainable cork or bad plastic tops? Are the grapes grown sustainably? A simple internet search can make your liquor a lot less impactful on the planet.

5. Ethical Choices About Dining Out

If you are anywhere near any type of major urban environment, or even larger towns, there are so many fine dining establishments these days that include ethical and sustainable options that there’s absolutely no need to support restaurants that still support purchasing industrialized meat, overfished seafood or non-organic produce. Take the time to find and support an ethically sustainable restaurant this Valentine’s Day.

6. Eco Friendly, Socially Conscious Gifts

Please do not buy a synthetic teddy bear this holiday season. Please think about whether what you’re buying is unnecessary waste and then select gifts with sustainability in mind. In the year 2011, there’s no reason not to focus on green products!

7. Chocolate is an Opportunity to Do Good for the World

There’s buying expensive chocolate, and then there’s whipping up a delicious dessert at home from the heart!

8. Make Love!

There, we said it. Skip the chocolates, cards and teddy bears and just spend time kissing and doting upon your sweetheart.

9. Reduce the Carbon Footprint of Romantic Getaways

We don’t begrudge you your romantic weekend getaway, but there are plenty of eco-friendly, romantic retreats you can go to rather than huge carbon footprint monstrosities. Go Eco Travel style for your weekend getaway.

10. Three Words Go a Long Way!

Above all, the best Valentine’s gift that you can give doesn’t require you to generate any waste at all. It’s simply saying “I love you.” Now, if you did that while holding a boombox (powered by rechargeable batteries only) over your head while it played “In Your Eyes,” that would be even better!