The Hallmark holiday to end all Hallmark holidays is fast descending upon us- the dreaded St. Valentines Day.

Outfitted with the most horrifying pinks, reds and lace, once a year this day climbs from the bowels of commercialism to haunt us with chemically processed sweets, synthetically stuffed animals, mass produced floral arrangements and a forests’ worth of greeting cards. Not to mention the emotional anguish it can inspire- Will you have a date? Will you go to dinner?And (gasp) will you Get Any?

But who said we can’t have an eco-friendly sense of humor and still celebrate this day of sweetness? Here are the top 5 picks for spicing up your sustainable love life:

1. Slip on the No! Shopping Bag Bra – Triumph International Japan

No it’s not for warding off uninvited advances. Instead the No! is more like “just say no” and is meant to raise awareness to the estimated 30 billion plastic shopping bags used by Japanese consumers. The bra, which comes in red, blue, yellow and pink, can be transformed into a ready-to-use shopping bag with only a few steps, and is also made of polyester fibers recycled from plastic bottles using the company’s EcoCircle recycling system.

2. Light up the Room with a Babeland Massage Candle

These ingenious votive candles not only set the stage for a decadent massage, they deliver it. The melting wax, made of gentle, skin-safe soy, transforms into a warm, deliciously scented massage oil. Blow out the flame, drizzle the warm oil on your lover’s body, and unwind with a massage as good for the body as it is for the soul.

3. Explore your Dark (and Chocolatey) Side

Although it has a controversial history, the cacao bean and the love-handles it’s responsible for are a Valentines’ staple. So why not choose some sweets that are doing good as well as tasting good? Endangered Species Chocolate is a high quality, all-natural, ethically traded treat that uses the universal appeal of chocolate to spread a positive environmental message and provides cacao farmers a fair wage that leads to more sustainable farming practices.

4. Get Drunk on Him

Ladies, I’m not suggesting you don’t hold up your end of the tab. Instead surprise your man with Burt’s Bees Bay Rum Cologne- a refreshing men’s fragrance. Fresh citrus oils of lemon and orange and energizing bergamot are enveloped in the warm, spicy depth of cypress and fir to create a crisp, woodsy scent. Plus, Burt’s Bees is one of those cool companies that disclose their products’ ingredient list and never tests on animals.

5. Stage a Spa-napping

Not literally of course, but every girl (and guy) needs to be whisked away on a fantasy vaca now and then. If you can’t swing the carbon offsets for an out-of-country get away, try something closer to home. The Green Spa Network is a directory of spas around the country that have made a serious comittment to reducing their environmental impact. Green spas (as defined by GSN) are those that have pledged to use toxin-free products and are a haven for getting intouch with your calmer, more natural side.

- The Team at GenGreen

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