How to show the planet some love on Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day can be an opportunity to show consideration for the planet.

Valentine’s Day is traditionally a time to show affection for loved ones, but it can also be an opportunity to show consideration for the planet. Many iconic holiday items, from heart-shaped chocolate boxes to flower bouquets, carry significant environmental consequences, experts say.

This year, consumers are expected to spend a record $29.1 billion on the holiday, breaking last year’s record, according to the National Retail Federation. Items that are single-use and shipped long distances, like imported cut flowers, carry a greater environmental cost than gifts that last longer or travel shorter distances, Sandra Goldmark, professor of professional practice and associate dean for engagement and impact at the Columbia Climate School, told ABC News.

"For my money, on a holiday dedicated to expressing care and appreciation, it's worth it to take a moment to find a gift that truly expresses care – for the recipient, for the people who made it and for the planet," Goldmark said.

More than 1 billion cut flowers, including roses and carnations, are imported each year from countries such as Colombia and Ecuador, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. These shipments produce significant carbon dioxide emissions as the flowers are transported around the world and within the United States.

Greenhouse gas emissions from maritime transport, which account for 3% of the global total, have increased by 20% between 2012 and 2022, according to the United Nations.