Tainted Love: What Not To Get Your Valentine with Klean Kanteen Giveaway (5 Winners)

Tainted Love: What Not To Get Your Valentine

This Valentine’s Day, when Cupid sets about the delicate task of inspiring love with his bow, the last thing you want is to suffer the slings and arrows of toxic gifts.

Whether you’re planning on presenting your valentine with a bouquet of red roses, musky cologne or a teddy named Freddie, there’s a chance that you may also be exposing them to toxic chemicals.

Here are some tips to help you find toxic-free gifts for your sweetheart this V-day:

Personal Care Products: Before she even makes it to the breakfast table, the average Canadian woman has probably used almost 15 personal care products. Canadian men are not too far behind, using more personal care products than ever before. It’s no wonder cosmetics, colognes and lotions continue to be popular Valentine’s Day gift items, year after year. Many may not be aware that these 15 personal care products can contain over 100 toxic ingredients, ten of which have been published in our convenient “Toxic Ten” pocket shopping guide. This year, as you search for the scent that so perfectly captures the essence of your valentine, check the ingredients on the product labels for those “Toxic Ten”.

Toys: The best way to avoid toxic chemicals in Valentine’s Day themed toys, like stuffed animals and heart shaped pillows, is to choose items that are made from natural materials such as organic cotton. In light of recent media reports, it is also suggested to avoid fabrics that contain flame retardants (PBDEs), a chemical that could be potentially ineffective, as well as dangerous.

Flower Arrangements: That colourful foliage might look fresh, but when it comes to cut flowers, many florists order their blooms from developing countries where there are no regulations against the use toxic pesticides. While these harmful chemicals are banned in Canada, imported flowers are not tested for pesticide deposit. Traditional floral foam is also a cause for concern. By absorbing and retaining water, these spongy green blocks work great as a base for flower arrangements, but they may also contain toxic elements, including formaldehyde. Along with irritating and damaging the respiratory system, formaldehyde is known to cause cancer and is a sensitizer that can cause and aggravate severe allergies. So, what can you do to avoid these not-so-pretty poisons? Next time you plan a visit to your florist, we advise you to stray away traditional from floral foam and keep a lookout for two factors: 1) Locality and 2) Pesticide-Free. By choosing local and pesticide-free flowers that do not use traditional floral foam, not only will you be supporting your local farmers, but you’ll also have some peace of mind knowing your bouquet is as green as it should be.

Sometimes, the best way to avoid toxic gifts whatsoever is to get creative! Who says love can’t be expressed by something intangible… then again, a box of chocolates is never a bad idea, either.

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Wishing you all the happiest of Valentine’s Days.

My friends over at Environmental Defence have 5 Pink Klean Kanteens to giveaway to my readers!

Good luck!

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