Looking for a perfect way to express your love this Valentine's?

 

You can spoil your loved one this Valentine’s Day and treat the environment at the same time.

 

If you’re looking for an impressive gift for that special somebody, why not choose a recycled present from the www.recycledproducts.org.uk/ where you can find thousands of products made from recycled materials including bags and jewellery.

 

Buy your loved one a beautiful house plant instead of flowers – it saves packaging and lasts much longer.

 

If you are being treated to a luxurious bottle of bubbly and some strawberries, remember to compost the leftover strawberry stalks and recycle the bottle.  All those recycled bottles can be used to produce funky jewellery or lovely glassware for the home. Visit the following companies for some gift inspiration: www.whosglass.co.uk and www.greenglass.co.uk

 

Wrap your presents the Japanese way with ‘Furoshiki’, the reusable fabric gift wrapping technique – watch the video on below. Or treating the love in your life to a gift without wrapping – how about a trip to the theatre, adopting an animal at a local zoo or wine tasting for two at one of Devon’s many vineyards?

 

 

If you’re planning to prepare a romantic meal for two, don’t buy or cook too much food – almost 1/3 of our food ends up being thrown away, which can cost up to £50 per month.  Check out the portion calculator www.recycledevon.org/love-food-hate-waste to make sure that your portions are perfect and by sticking to your shopping list – you could save you money which could mean an extra romantic gift for the special person in your life.

 

Buying chocolates? Avoid ones which are over packaged and make sure you recycle the box afterwards. 

 

10 ways to reuse/recycle chocolate boxes:

 

• Save love letters and momentoes in heart-shaped boxes

 

• Make into a Valentine’s Day card for next year

 

• Use a smaller box for storing paperclips, rubber bands, etc. or cut and use for index cards

 

• Flatten and store for later use, such as shipping Christmas gifts. They take up little space when broken down this way.

 

• Set those Facebook photos free and make a collage!  Cut out the side of a cardboard box to make a flat rectangle and paste on printed photos.  Choose a selection of fun and memorable snaps to make unique gifts for friends and family.

 

• CD/DVD sleeve - Whether you've just finished making a new music mix CD for a friend, burned a CD with pictures of your children or misplaced the case for your favourite DVD, you can easily fold cardboard to create a protective sleeve.

 

• Pass on the chocolatey joy by re-decorating cardboard boxes with wrapping paper and ribbons.  Fill with homemade chocolates, truffles or fudge for a special gift.

 

• Re-use the plastic trays as fun ice cube trays or jelly moulds. Fill with fruit juice and freeze to add a cool twist to drinks.

 

• Decorate and use to store writing or notepaper and your cards and letters will smell of chocolate. Sweet!

 

• Decorative Jewellery Box - Decorate boxes keeping the chocolate dividers inside to separate each pair of earrings, rings, etc. Put them in your drawer or stack them on your table or dresser.