Eco-Friendly Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas (Beyond Flowers and Cards)
Skip the card this year. Five thoughtful, low-waste Valentine’s gift ideas, from a video game made just for them to a plant that outlasts the roses.
The UK bought about 21 million Valentine’s cards in 2024. Most are read once, propped on a shelf for a week, then thrown away. If you’d like to show you care without adding to the pile, here are five gifts that mean more and waste less.
Why skip the card?
- It adds up. A typical card has a carbon footprint of about 140g of CO2e once it’s made, posted and recycled. Across 21 million Valentine’s cards, that’s roughly 3,000 tonnes in the UK alone.
- Glitter can’t be recycled. Cards with glitter, and some with foil, have to go in general waste. Rules vary, so check your council.
- It’s forgettable. A card says the same thing as millions of others. A gift made for them says more.
1. A video game made just for them 🎮
A Minigamegift is a short game starring the person you love. You design their character, write the messages they’ll find, and send it as a link. There’s nothing to post and nothing to throw away, and they can play it again whenever they like.
- In Love Notes, they explore a little house and find the love notes you’ve hidden.
- In Rescue or Moonlight, they answer questions you’ve written about the two of you.
It takes about five minutes to make and arrives instantly, so it works even on the 13th of February. See how to make one.
2. An evening instead of an object
Cook their favourite meal, book the place you had your first date, or plan a walk somewhere new. Time together is the gift people remember.
Tip: end your game with the plan. Leave a final message like “Be ready at 8, we’re going out for dinner!” and let the game deliver the surprise.
3. One letter, written by hand
If you love paper, write one real letter instead of signing a printed card. Use plain recycled paper, skip the glitter, and it can go in the recycling.
4. A plant that outlasts the roses
Cut flowers fade in a week. A potted plant keeps growing, and so does the reminder.
5. A playlist of your songs
Make a playlist of songs that mean something to the two of you, from the first one you danced to onwards. It costs nothing and they’ll play it for years.
Happy Valentine’s Day ❤️
Whatever you choose, the best gifts show you were thinking about them. If you’d like to make them a game of their own, browse our games.