Our ethically sourced Valentine’s Day gift guide creates an opportunity to celebrate that special someone in your life. If they’re anything like you, they probably care about the products they use, consume, and wear.
Make your gift do double duty this year by showing your sweetie how much you love them while supporting great companies. Trust us: nothing says romance like ethical and socially responsible gift-giving.
What are Ethically Sourced Gifts?
Ethically sourced gifts come from companies or individuals who prioritize fair labor practices, care for their suppliers and manufacturers, and respect the environment by using sustainable materials.
By choosing ethically sourced gifts, you can be sure that your gifts are produced in a socially responsible way. Plus, many of these products have a much lower environmental impact than mass-produced items.
Why Should You Buy Ethically Sourced Gifts?
When you purchase ethically sourced gifts, you can rest assured knowing that your money is going towards supporting people and businesses who practice ethical sourcing standards and strive to treat workers fairly.
This means no child labor, no forced labor, and no unfair wages or working conditions. Furthermore, many ethically sourced products are made with sustainable materials such as organic cotton or bamboo which help reduce our collective environmental footprint.
Valentine’s Day Gift Guide – Ethical Electronics
The company believes in sourcing conflict-free materials that support local economies, not armed militias. Fairphone works closely with manufacturers that want to invest in employee wellbeing and ethical worker practices.
The Fairphone True Wireless Earbuds deliver an immersive listening experience, with superior sound quality and active noise cancelling.
More importantly though, they’re designed with fair and recycled materials, a battery that outlasts your longest playlist and weather resistance for extra peace of mind.
Both the earbuds and the charging case are made with 30% recycled plastics. And as a world-first, they managed to integrate Fairtrade Gold into the supply chain.
For every pair you buy, they save their weight in electronic waste from the landfill by reusing or recycling old electronics.
The Nimble CHAMP Portable Charger is another great gift idea. Nimble work only with suppliers who share their values on workers’ rights, sustainable materials and reducing environmental impact.
Nimble is committed to not only reducing their environmental impact through smarter production means and materials, but by encouraging the entire Nimble Community to help reduce the amount of e-waste ending up in the world’s landfills.
The company provides a recyclable bag inside all packaging, and offer a pre-paid mail-in label so customers can easily send old electronic devices, cell phones, cables, etc, directly to their e-waste recycling partner, Homeboy Electronics for safe, responsible reclamation!
Nimble also selects high-quality, low-impact materials, with no paint or toxic chemicals. Fully recyclable aluminum and plant-based plastics are used with no chemical adhesives and all fabric blends are made with 100% organic hemp and recycled plastic bottles.
Valentine’s Day Gift Guide – For the Body
Coconut milk & sandalwood lotion from Soapbox is the perfect duo to create a customized scent that is warm, luxurious and slightly nutty for an aroma that smells just as comforting as this lotion leaves your skin feeling.
Infused with the hydrating qualities of coconut oil, your skin will be deeply moisturized with each use. Rich in vitamins E,K and loaded with fatty acids this miracle oil will quench your skin’s thirst for moisture.
Incorporated with our shea butter, aloe, vitamin E and olive oil formula this lotion will intensify your moisturizing routine with 4X hydration.
Moroccan Black Soap, also known as Beldi Black Soap, Savon Noir or African Black Soap is a 100% natural soft soap made with olive oil and eucalyptus essential oil and has a butter-like texture.
Beldi Soap is made specially to be used in traditional bath establishments known as hammams and is an important part of the Moroccan bathing ritual.
This soap deep cleans the skin by removing toxins and dead skin cells, making skin softer. It is rich in vitamin E and is suitable for all skin types.
Benefits include: Deep cleans the skin by removing toxins and dead skin cells, making our skin softer; exfoliation increases blood and lymph circulation; rich in vitamin E, A, and iron.
aWondr restorative night cream is a universal cream based on Chlorella Vulgaris, a natural and purifying ingredient that renews and repairs deep skin tissue. It improves the general condition of the skin by moisturizing and stimulating collagen production.
Apply to the face and neck with gentle massaging motion until the cream is completely absorbed by the skin. This ensures an immediate clear and soft skin within 48 hours.
The Ecvo Lips – Mongo Kiss pack presents an effortless gifting solution! Featuring an array of flavors from Strawberry Lavender, Blood Orange, and Yumberry to Peppermint, Vanilla Honey, and Black Cherry, it allows consumers to explore every taste (0.15 oz. size) of the best-selling line at an outstanding value.
Eco Lips is committed to making organic products accessible to all by offering high-quality items at a wallet-friendly price.
Rich in Vitamin E, these lip balms are perfect for holiday gifting and stocking stuffers, demonstrating that organic quality can indeed be affordable.
The pack includes the top-selling Mongo Kiss Lip Balm, available in the 0.15 oz. size, ensuring a delightful and nourishing experience for the lips.
Valentine’s Day Gift Guide – Chocolate
Does it get more classic than chocolate on Valentine’s Day? While the cocoa industry can be highly exploitative, luckily for chocolate lovers, there are so many brands doing chocolate right.
Wei of Chocolate takes cocoa-induced joy to the next level. These flower-shaped chocolates are free of dairy, soy, gluten, and GMOs. Their subscription model is all about incorporating wellness and chocolate into your everyday routine. Hint: this would be a great self-care gift too!
Theo Chocolate checks all the boxes: organic, fair trade, with artisanal flavors that are handmade. If you happen to live near Seattle, take your loved one (or your gal pals!) on a tour of Theo’s factory. The samples are delicious and the information is insightful. They also have a new virtual tasting class, which is a fun excuse to eat copious amounts of chocolate at home.
Tony’s Chocolonely is determined to inspire big brands to make slave-free chocolate. Tony’s Chocolonely is doing that through leading by example and raising awareness about slavery in the cocoa industry.
A Dutch journalist started the brand after learning children were forced into labor on West African cocoa plantations. Since then, Tony’s set out to change the business with its own slave-free bars.
Tony’s offers fair farmer wages, job training and a traceable bean-to-bar process. It also educates consumers inside every wrapper.
Valentine’s Day Gift Guide – Home Essentials
Hand-carved heart teak dish made by Ceremonia. Teak wood is known to be one of the best quality woods because of its beauty and durability, but it’s important to know where your teak wood is coming from as many forests have been illegally cut down, leading to issues of deforestation.
They source the teak responsibly from Javanese family farms, so you can rest assured your purchase is sustainable.
Capture the beautiful fragrances of a New England meadow with Pioneer Valley Candles! Inspired by the beautiful Pioneer Valley outside the windows of the Prosperity Candle workspace, these unique, natural scents will transport you to weather-worn tobacco barns, meadows with busy bees pollinating flowers, and walks in the Massachusetts woods.
Plants make people happy, it’s a proven fact. and when paired with our plant hangers, they become even happier. The macramé hanging wall planters are a lovely touch to any home for a subtle bohemian feel and effect.
The level of care and intricacy that went into knotting and creating this piece is seen and felt. This small plant hanger is perfect because it doubles up as a beautiful wall macramé piece.
Valentine’s Day Gift Guide – Undergarments
Yep, we’re mentioning the unmentionables. Underwear can be a tricky item to source ethically…and even trickier to buy for someone else. But if you’re wanting to get a little intimate, a pair of underwear can be a cheeky gift. (See what we did there?)
Madi Apparel is creating an ethical fashion brand using American manufacturing, giving back, and empowering women affected by domestic violence.
MADI Apparel was started in 2012 after learning underwear is the most requested item at most domestic violence shelters and sexual assault clinics in the United States. MADI stands for Make a Difference domestically and globally.
Me Undies makes underwear fun and “easy to match your bottom half with your better half” with its inclusive, non-gendered prints.
As casual as its patterns are, Me Undies is serious when it comes to transparency and sustainability. It uses fair trade labor to make breathable MicroModal fabric from beechwood trees. Buy a pair for you and your honey!
Undies not your thing? Matching socks could be cute too! Socks are also a great Galentine’s gift idea.
Valentine’s Day Gift Guide – Jewelry
Elevate your Valentine’s game with a piece of jewelry that your partner will wear for years. So many jewelry brands that give back to important causes have popped up in recent years.
Here are a few favorites. (Don’t forget the moms or other people in your life who might appreciate a shiny Valentine’s surprise!)
Starfish Project makes trendy jewelry that empowers women at every step of process. Starfish has an outreach program that goes into brothels, building relationships with girls and women who want out of the sex trade.
They’re then trained in jewelry making, photography, operations, and more, helping to run and grow Starfish as they develop personal and professional skills.
Sela Designs donates 100% of the profits from its handmade jewelry sales. Using leather, stones, and metals, Sela Designs jewelry straddles the line between staple and statement pieces.
The Jewel In Giving allows you to decide where your charity dollars go. It offers a huge selection of ethically-sourced jewelry that comes in certified eco-friendly boxes.
When you order, 12% of every purchase goes to a nonprofit of your choice, or you can let the Jewel In Giving team choose an organization for you.
Valentine’s Day Gift Guide – Bathtime Goodies
Pamper your partner (or yourself) with some bathtime goodies to enjoy alone or together. We could all use more relaxation time spent away from life’s hustle and bustle.
Consider a bath set, like this one by Sitti Soap from Done Good. Sitti offers vegan, natural, zero waste bath products that are handmade by refugees in the Middle East. Wins all around.
Osmia Organics’ Spa Day set is sure to impress. The brain child of ER doctor turned soapmaker, Osmia not only creates highly intentional bath and body products, it also partners with One Tree Planted to plant a tree for every online order.
For partners with facial hair, they’ll love this non-toxic shaving set by Crux Supply Co. via Green Beau. It’s made in the USA and guarantees a luxe shaving experience.
Enjoy the spa-like experience of a lavender bath. This soothing relaxing scent will wash away stress while the natural ingredients will soothe muscle ache and moisturize skin.
This bath bomb is made with 100% natural, skin-friendly ingredients and topped with lavender flower buds.
This bath bomb has been handcrafted by Bangladeshi artisans that have escaped human trafficking and are now guaranteed fair, living wages and a safe work environment.
Each purchase helps fund a school in Bangladesh.
Valentine’s Day Gift Guide – Bedding
If ever there was an excuse to spend all day in bed, it’s Valentine’s Day. Give the gift of good sleep and restful daydreams with some high quality bedding.
With its 100% organic, non-toxic bamboo lyocell sheets, Ettitude promises “luxurious comfort, draped in purpose.” Um, yes please! The company is part of 1% for the Planet and it has a CO2 neutral website. Bonus: they also make super soft sleepwear.
Curl up on an organic latex mattress from PlushBeds. If you don’t need a whole new mattress, you can shop sustainable toppers, linens, pillows, and even bed frames!
The company touts more than 15 environmental and operational certifications, so you can rest easy in and on its products.
Valentine’s Day Gift Guide – Apparel
Choosing ethical apparel as a Valentine’s Day gift is a thoughtful and impactful way to express love not only for your significant other but also for the planet and its inhabitants.
Ethical and sustainable fashion emphasizes the use of sustainable materials, fair labor practices, and environmentally friendly production processes.
Crafted from eco-friendly materials and made in facilities that uphold fair trade standards, these crew socks are a testament to mindful consumption and environmental stewardship.
Conscious Step donates to transformative nonprofits with every pair of crew socks bought. Join the movement towards positive impact and enjoy premium quality socks in the process.
The Fashion Care Laundry Detergent Powder offers a delicate, natural, and softly scented, eco-friendly washing solution.
Crafted from natural components such as plant extracts and essential oils, it stands out for its gentle touch on sensitive skin, avoiding the use of harsh chemicals.
Engineered for high efficiency, it effectively tackles tough stains and dirt, ensuring a thorough clean. Infused with a floral fragrance, it leaves laundry with a refreshing scent.
Packaged in a sizable 3Kg bag, it supplies a durable quantity suitable for numerous large laundry loads, making it an ideal choice for those seeking both effectiveness and environmental consciousness in their laundry care.
Spread The Love
If even conscious consumerism isn’t your jam, consider treating your significant other to a fun experience. Take a cooking or art class. Do a rock climbing or martial arts lesson. Choose a book to read together.
A commercial holiday isn’t for everyone, but you can still spread the love this Valentine’s Day. Take advantage of any opportunity to show your loved one how much they mean to you. Whether it’s quality time, a thoughtful gift, or a special note, make it count.
