Ethical valentine's day guide for men

It’s official. Women are more ethical than men. So now you don’t just have to remember Valentine’s Day- and you can’t fall back on the old standby of ‘garage’ flowers or the first box of chocolates you see. You really have to work at it!

So, to help you along, here’s a slightly eclectic list of traditional Valentine’s gifts -  but with a proper ethical twist. 

Dinner a deux

This should be easy you say. Well unfortunately not as easy as you would think. When we go shopping for food we are getting much more beady about what we buy and where it comes from. But somehow, when we eat out, we often leave our consciences with our coats. But things are changing. Many restaurants are proud of the efforts they make to ensure their food is animal welfare friendly, organic or – where fish is concerned – sustainably sourced.

Check out Freedom Food’s Simply Ask restaurant finder - www.simplyask.org.uk. This lists restaurants that  serve only eggs from uncaged hens. Or go fishing at www.fishonline.org – then look for those that have Marine Stewardship Council approved fish on the menu.

It just might be easier – and much ‘greener’ -  to prepare a special Valentine’s Dinner at home. We have put together a really simple, but impressive, Valentine’s menu that anyone can cook with a shopping list and a foolproof workplan. 

Red Rose Free Zone

Think again. Aside from being a terrible cliché, almost all red roses are imported ,  particularly at this time of year. That’s loads and loads of ‘flower miles’. Think British grown, think low carbon footprint - think real flowers that actually have a scent. 

http://www.wigglywigglers.co.uk/shop. All their flowers are grown locally and in season. Or www.scentednarcissi.co.uk - lovely scented blooms grown in the open air on the Isles of Scilly. 

Sweet Surrender

Chocolate -  a not so guilty pleasure nowadays and lots of ethical choices.
Try Divine - www.divinechocolate.com. Their farmer’s not only receive a fair-trade price for their cocoa,  but they also own 45% of the company.  You won’t go far wrong with the Milk Chocolate Heart, presented in a see-through presentation box. 
Or  Roccoco –  with  Fairtrade chocolate from the island of Grenada and organic chocolate mixed in they have, amongst a range of other delights, hand painted chocolate hearts or, for real impact hand made dark chocolate lips with chilli. Yum. www.rococochocolates.com.

Knickers to unethical lingerie

Leaving aside the ethical argument, this is a bit of a minefield.  Women do like pretty underwear but   please get her size right.  All the efforts you have made will be as nought if you get this part wrong. 

If you have bravely chosen this route and you will be pleasantly surprised to find that there is a wealth of choice in ethical lingerie.

Anyone for knickers made from pine tree bark?  The pine trees are sustainably grown and the process coincides with natural pruning – in other words, no trees died to make these undies.  Find these wooden beauties at www.bynature.co.uk.

Second-hand knickers?  Greenknickers use recycled clothes and organic and hemp for their range http - www.greenknickers.org.

Or you could go for ‘Pants for Poverty’ – fair-trade, sweatshop free with some of the profits going to campaigning for trade justice. www.pantstopoverty.com.

Diamonds are a girl’s best friend

Lucky girl!  But you have to think here too. The profits from the sale of conflict diamonds, or blood diamonds, are used clandestinely to fund rebellions and wars in many African countries.  Slaves labour is more often than not used in the mining process and child labour to polish the gems is prevalent in India. 

www.fifibijoux.com  sells certified diamonds mined and polished in Canada.  www.credjewellery.com offers jewellery that is certified as socially and environmentally responsible. Or check out www.made.uk.com. They work with influential designers but source their raw materials ethically from disadvantaged communities across East Africa.