So, I may be a bit late for this Valentines-Day inspired post, but if you haven't done your shopping for your sweetie yet, here are a couple of things that you can keep in mind (or think about them for birthdays or for next year!):
Try to avoid buying cut flowers - many cut flowers are imported from developing countries that use pesticides that have been banned in Canada. The carbon-cost of importing these flowers and keeping them fresh is also quite high.
If you need to buy flowers to keep yourself out of the doghouse, try to buy Fair Trade Certified. When you buy Fair-Trade products, you're casting a vote to support higher ethical and economic standards. This ensures that producers and their families have the opportunity to improve their lives and plan for the future -I'm sure that this will make the flowers smell much sweeter too! (You'll also find the Fair Trade Certified label on many other things too - clothing, spices etc ... here's a link to the David-Suzuki Foundation's Eco Label Guide)
If your sweetie is into sweets, keep him/her and the planet safe by buying Fair-Trade! How you may ask? Well, because many cocoa growing companies use nasty chemicals and unfair labor practices to get the basic ingredient for chocolate. According to a really interesting article, Deep Green Chocolate Love, on Green Living's website conventional cocoa is only second to cotton in its use of pesticides! Furthermore, apparently there are at least 30 different pesticides used in cocoa production,some of which are extremely toxic, and traces of these harsh pesticides and chemicals still show up in the chocolates you may be buying for your sweetie!
The Green Living article also states that 75% of the cocoa used in North American chocolate comes from Africa's Ivory Coast where farmers live in poverty and work under shocking labor conditions. No matter how much your loved one loves chocolate, I'm sure he/she wouldn't want children laboring to pick cocoa instead of going to school or playing.
By buying certified organic Fair Trade, you are ensuring that your money goes to support fair working conditions and bio-diversity, along with ensuring that your chocolate is free from harmful chemicals!
But don't worry! Just because you're buying with a conscience doesn't mean that you are left without choices! Here is a list of chocolates that the Green Living article recommends, but I am sure that there are plenty more choices if you look around!
Equita Fair Trade Chocolate is owned by Oxfam!
Lillie Belle Farms has a plethora of delicious organic artisan chocolates!
Cocoa Camino
Divine Chocolate
Endangered Species Chocolate Company
Equal Exchange
Green & Black's
Newman's Organic Chocolate
Rapunzel Pure Organics, Inc.
Sjaak's Organic Chocolate
Terra Nostra
Theo Chocolate
Yachana Jungle Chocolate
While I won't be buying my sweetie chocolate or flowers, many of you are aware of my own sweet tooth, and I will be sure to try and buy organic and/or Fair Trade chocolate from now on!
Any other suggestions for an eco-friendly, carbon-neutral St. Valentine's day?
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