An ethical Valentine's Day

A table for 8pm in the name of COG, thank you.

Let's begin our romantic cruise with the unmissable and highly symbolic Valentine's Day dinner for two.

For the occasion, we booked a table at a great place, and since we're going to treat ourselves, we might as well enjoy ourselves while taking care of the planet and animal species.

Objective: 100% pleasure, 0 guilt!

For this gourmet introduction, rather than opting for a meat-based menu, the environmental impact of which can be severe, we try introducing our partner to the vegetarian or vegan menu made up of seasonal dishes.

Fortunately, today there is no shortage of plant-based alternatives, and veggie and vegan cuisine now also has its representatives in the world of haute cuisine; like the idyllic Culina Hortus in Lyon, from the ONA in Arès near Bordeaux, or the Arpeggio in Paris.

Also worth discovering in the capital at more affordable prices are the very friendly 42 Degrees (100% raw and vegan cuisine) and The plant-based slaughterhouse.

Of course, for an exceptional outing, we mention exceptional restaurants here, but a thousand other addresses of plant-based cuisine restaurants, all equally nice and accessible for smaller budgets, exist.

We'll let you browse around and share your favorite spots with us in the comments; and if you ever run out of inspiration, the great website VegOresto will allow you to discover the perfect vegetarian restaurant near you ;)

The time for wildflowers and houseplants.

What could be more beautiful than a field of flowers and its graceful palette of colors rippling in the wind?

For this special day, we suggest you embrace a uniquely romantic approach and preserve this splendid natural scene by leaving the flowers in their meadow rather than shortening their lives to just a few days in a vase. This will also help avoid some negative impacts on the planet, as reported... this article from France 24, No fewer than 12 billion flowers are imported each year from distant countries such as Kenya and Israel, and no regulations currently limit the doses of pesticides that can be used, even for flowers grown in Europe. Soil and air pollution are therefore significant factors in the environmental impact of the floral industry.

So, what can replace the usual Valentine's Day bouquet to declare your love to your sweetheart?lu.e of her heart? It's time to play the originality card by thinking nature, but also sustainable, by offering a beautiful houseplant - accompanied of course by its inseparable love note - which will have the merit, in addition to lasting for years, of reviving in your partner the memory of this special occasion, with each watering.

For a romantic touch, we recommend you take a look at the website of Bycharlot, which offers you the opportunity to personalize your plant by adding a custom message to a pretty, colorful pot. A thoughtful touch that is sure to make a great impression. It is up to you to choose the variety or varieties best suited to your expectations based on the desired aesthetic, ease of maintenance, size and light of the room for which the plant is intended.

Kindness in a bottle.

Another famous and classic gift for the holiday of amoureux.euses : the perfume.

Personal and captivating, the world of perfumery represents in itself an incredible universe of sensory exploration.

However, with the industrialization of the market, essences, originally produced from natural flowers and aromatic plants, have given way to synthetic scents, which can prove to be harmful to the planet, but also sometimes to our health and our lungs.

Fortunately, some brands such as 100 Good prefer to focus on quality by emphasizing respect for the body and the environment in the creation of their fragrances.

Their bottles are cruelty-free, natural, and refillable.

All that remains is to find the perfect scent to intoxicate your conjoint.e.

Ethics, from the plate...to the feet.

Digital montage, no flowers or petals were harmed in the making of this photo :)

And what if, after our candleless tête-à-tête dinner, we ended the evening with a small clothing gift?

We know what you're thinking, where Valentine's Day and fashion meet, you're thinking "finally they're talking about sexy lingerie!"

That could have been the case, but unfortunately we'll pass this time, since here we'll be addressing the issue of ethically sewn clothing in a more general way. So you'll have to be curious to find the perfect ski socks, onesie pajamas, or briefs to end this evening on a steamy note with your loved one ;)

Okay, as we were saying; if you want to give a garment as a gift, why not combine ethics with pleasure by offering a piece made according to responsible criteria.

For those unfamiliar with the industry, let's remember that fashion is the second most polluting sector in the world after oil, generating 1.2 billion tons of CO2 per year! So if you're going to give pleasure, you might as well do it without increasing the environmental impact.

Today, thankfully, many brands are committed, like COG, by using European manufacturing and taking into account the well-being of workers, the use of recycled and ecological materials, or the choice to use only vegan alternatives.

Clothing, underwear, bags, accessories, eco-responsible shoes now have their representatives, and by being a little curieux.euse, It is easy to find alternatives to build up, or in this case, offer, beautiful wardrobe pieces made ethically, within a solidarity framework.

While we won't do all the work for you, leaving you to scour the internet to find the perfect eco-friendly gem(s) to suit your loved one's tastes, we can still recommend a very nice little up-and-coming brand. shoes eco-responsible ; dress shoes women/man Made in Europe sneakers made from plastic bottles recovered from the sea and recycled cork, 100% vegan materials, They have what it takes to ethically and elegantly dress your soulmate's feet in any season.

Okay, we couldn't resist a little self-promotion, it doesn't hurt, apparently, but all joking aside, while buying new is sometimes necessary, secondhand is certainly a consumption method that is just as – if not more – eco-friendly and virtuous for the planet. So why not treat your loved one?ri.e With a brand new second-hand item? Bravo for the COG oxymoron!

Local thrift stores, online resale sites, there are many ways to find the perfect outfit to dress your partner, while also doing something good for the planet.

You have probably already heard of the now famous resale site Vinted, But many other online thrift stores exist, such as OnceAgain, Or You will find hundreds of second-hand items in excellent condition, even new, and what's more, sometimes at ridiculously low prices.

To remain eco-friendly, however, beware of the rebound effect and do not fall into the trap of buying more because it is cheaper; because new or second-hand, ethical clothes will always be those that we wear, and not those that we buy to pile up in a closet.

The gourmet gift.

If there's one gift that generally pleases everyone, and will certainly delight your partner, it's chocolate!

Although cocoa beans do not grow in our latitudes, consumed occasionally, in a box or as a tablet, chocolate makes a very nice gift, provided that we do not forget to read the labels to see if the secret ingredient is there, we are obviously talking about the ethics of production.

Fair trade certified Artisans of the World, vegan and organic at iChoc, Chocolate is all the more delicious when it is made responsibly; because it is neither always ecological nor always grown in an altruistic way, as the documentary demonstrates. The hidden side of chocolate, released in 2010.

Finally, why not complement this rounded gift with a light and zen touch such as an assortment of teas?

Antioxidant, anti-stress…the list of benefits of this ancient drink is long.

Whether tea is, or isn't yet, your partner's guilty pleasure, why not introduce them to the brand? The Other Tea or the organic brand 4:24 PM And their gift boxes with delicate flavors? Their manufacturing ethics range from ecology from consideration for the people in charge of harvesting, to providing work for people with disabilities in the context of bagging their products.

Such lovely values, for a gift full of virtue and gentleness.