With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, show your S.O. (significant other) how much you love them, and the planet too! Here are eight ethically sourced romantic gift ideas for her:
See also: Sustainable Valentine’s Day Gift Guide for Him
1. Guilt-Free Chocolates
We’re not just talking about the calories here! Cacao HK’s delightful, fresh and additive-free chocolate creations are made with top quality, single-origin Fino de Aroma cocoa nibs. The cocoa comes from Columbia, where there are no reports of child slave labour on plantations, and from suppliers who operate sustainable, deforestation-free farms. Arenga sugar is bought from conservation foundation Masarang, and packaging is plastic-free, minimal and recyclable.
To minimise carbon footprint further, deliveries are made via public transport or an electric vehicle. This Valentine’s day, in addition to its usual range of beautiful, handmade pralines, Cacao HK is also offering delicious chocolate and raspberry cake, and a pre-cooked dinner package that includes a pot of two orchids and/or a bottle of champagne.
Shop at CacaoHK
See also: The Best Vegan Cookies In Hong Kong
2. Ethically Sourced Lingerie
San Francisco brand Naja is a wonderful shop for ethical and socially conscious lingerie. The Gina Bralette and matching pair of underwear for example, named after the brand’s co-founder, actress Gina Rodriguez, features cutouts at the front and back with lace insets and detailing. According to a large number of customer reviews, the set is sexy but also really comfortable.
What’s even better is that the bralette and briefs are made from recycled nylon sourced from leftover scraps on factory floors and old fish nets, dyed in a family-owned facility that takes great care in disposing dyestuffs, and made in the company’s own factory where they employ single mothers and women heads of household, paying above the minimum wage with benefits.
Shop at Naja
3. Sustainable Gift Hamper For Her
Give her everything she needs for a chic and sustainable lifestyle, including a limited edition 8Shades x STTOKE coffee cup, custom-blended candle from BeCandle, Coconut Matter soap scrub, gua sha tool, calming bath salts and more!
Shop the sustainable gift hamper on the 8Shades Shop
4. Ethically Sourced Jewellery
Bali-based artisan collective John Hardy is a certified member of the Responsible Jewellery Council and has been committed to sustainable practices since its inception in 1975, ensuring stones are conflict-free and jewellery is ethically produced, every step of the way. All of the brand’s packaging are now certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, a non-profit that manages the environmental and economic benefits of trees.
It also supports the local community and preservation of Bali’s natural resources. John Hardy’s latest collection, Manah, is a versatile range of gender-neutral necklaces, earrings, bracelets and rings, all made from reclaimed silver, 14K gold and conflict-free diamonds. Each cast heart is fashioned after its original sketch, with no two exactly alike.
Shop at John Hardy
See also: 8 Things To Know About Lab-grown Diamonds
5. Vegan-friendly Candles
Founded by Hong Kong’s Linda Tse, who has made a name in creating signature scents for weddings and events, Moonglade Candle’s products are made from natural soy wax or coconut wax blended with botanical essential oils, making them biodegradable, vegan and pet-friendly. The company uses lead-free cotton wicks to ensure a safe, clean burn, and its candles come in a range of gorgeous scents.
The Signature candle comes in a gentle scent of sweet osmanthus and mint, while Love Peony, a best seller, has the crisp, floral scent of the flower, perfect for creating a romantic ambience. Moonglade Candle offers gift boxes that are individually hand-labelled, with an option to include name and personal messages.
Shop at Moonglade Candle
If you love candles, be sure to check out our own custom-blended 8Shades scented candle created in collaboration with BeCandle!
See also: 8Shades Of… Xavier Tsang of BeCandle
6. Planet-friendly Perfume
An organic skincare and fragrance brand born in Grasse, France, the perfume capital of the world and cultivated in Hong Kong, Josée, carries eight perfume lines inspired by the founder, Cecilia Lok’s life and experiences.
Lan Kwai Fong, a combination of cassis oil, orange oil, ambrette seed and sandalwood, brings forth a sense of enjoyment, as friends gather at the famous Hong Kong nightspot for happy hour at the end of a work day. All of Josée fine fragrances are free of parabens, phthalates, HICC and nitro-musk. All ingredients are sourced ethically and no products are tested on animals.
Shop at Josée
7. Pampering Wellness Kit
The Ritual is a wellness brand founded by Brooke Skinner, who has spent more than a decade researching about how to help people connect with their body, mind, and spirit. The Protector kit, which comes with anointing oil infused with myrrh, vetiver and chamomile, an obsidian crystal and stage stick, aids one’s journey in increasing confidence, dispersing negative energy, and bringing a sense of calm.
The product is part of Net-a-Porter’s NETSustain collection, which requires brands to follow a set of sustainability standards such as being locally produced, ethically sourced or using materials grown with a significantly reduced environmental impact.
Shop at Net Sustain
8. Sustainable Gymwear
Hong Kong athletic brand Good Days’ pieces are made from recycled polyester, which comes from post-consumer plastic waste such as plastic bottles. Instead of going into landfill or the oceans, it is cleaned, broken down and reformed into high performance polyester yarns for their colourful line of stretchy tops and bottoms.
The CORE co-ord set is at the top of our list for V-day, which includes the CORE high-waisted legging with pockets and STRENGTH racer bra top that’s perfect for everything from hiking to running and HIIT workouts.
Shop on Good Days
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