Celebrating Love and Friendship Day in a bioethical way 

Love and Friendship Day is a celebration through which we can express our love and appreciation for those who surround us; however, celebrations such as Valentine’s Day represent a significant increase on carbon dioxide emissions and disproportionate waste production. According to statistics by Plastic Oceans Organization, February 14, represents an increase of 9 million kilograms of CO2. Love and Friendship Day has a similar environmental impact from a local perspective. 

Many of the gifts given in the celebration include single use plastics and other harmful materials. Here is a list of examples: 

• Balloons: Take 450 years to degrade  
• Straws and plastic bags: Take about 500 years to degrade 
• Single-use plastic cups (i.e. for a coffee): Take 400-450 years to degrade 
• Glitter or small decorations: This are microplastics and remain in the environment for hundreds of years 
• Cut flowers: Production processes may be polluting as most flowers are grown in greenhouses heated by natural gas, which releases thousands of kilograms of CO2. 

Love and Friendship Day represents an opportunity to reflect on our ever-lasting bond with the environment that surrounds us and our responsibility to have sustainable consumption. As global citizens we have the duty of utilizing the concept of ethical consumption on a daily basis, particularly on celebrations involving gift-giving. 

What is “ethical consumption” about? 

When purchasing products, we are not only buying the good or service but its production process. Wasteful production and unsustainable treatment of natural resources result in greater consumer demand for sustainable economic systems; responsible individual choices on consumption have a direct impact on production and the use of products. Ethical consumption is therefore a relevant concept when seeking to become much more engaged in sustainability. Ethical consumption is defined as a conscientious way of consuming in regard to ethical issues which include labour conditions, worker’s rights and protection of the natural environment; in other words, purchasing goods with the purpose of minimasing social and/or environmental damage. This influences producers and creates an incentive to utilise production practices that conform to consumer values.