When it comes to loving the planet and taking steps to protect it, every little counts.
By now, we all understand the implications of single-use plastic, recycle drugs and chemicals in designated areas only, and do our best to reduce the impact we have on the areas we live in.
But what if we told you dating can be sustainable too?
That’s right! Every aspect of our lives can be made more eco-friendly without pushing it to absurdity, and that includes romance.
The modern dating culture is in many ways similar to the fast fashion industry. You find and quickly dispose of new matches and lovers, you buy a new outfit to impress someone only to never wear it again, and you go to new trendy places with a huge carbon footprint simply because that’s where everyone in your town goes for their first date.
If all that sounds daunting, we have good news! A few small changes will already create a big impact and help you not only stand out from the dating crowd and find like-minded individuals but also help planet Earth.
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Sustainable First Impressions: Greener Profiles
First things first! If you are a sustainability enthusiast, you need to let the world know about it.
In modern dating, most of us meet online, so your dating app profile needs to have a makeover.
- Select and upload several photos that reflect who you are and the lifestyle you prefer. Think shots from the recent hike, you standing proudly in front of your private garden, or an image from the time you went cleaning the beach of the garbage.
- Mention eco-enthusiasm and focus on sustainability in your bio. However, make sure you don’t overdo it – there’s more to you than passion for the better future, so make sure to keep your bio description well-balanced.
- List all hobbies and projects you’re involved in that clearly identify your values.
Authenticity is a big hit in dating right now, and people want to get to know the real you right away, and not the polished PR-version that so many of us projected online over the past years.
If an eco-friendly lifestyle is something that plays a big role in your life, it’s definitely worth mentioning. On Flure, for example, more users are matching over meaningful values than ever, and the reaction to people being vulnerable with what’s important to them is positive, so don’t be shy.
Eco-Friendly Date Ideas
Now that we’ve identified ourselves correctly and matched with another eco-baddie, it’s time to take things offline and go on a date.
Are there eco-friendly date options? Yes! The possibilities are endless, especially if you’re putting some thought and creativity in it.
Here are a few ideas to get you inspired.
- Walks in parks, nature trails, and hikes all get a bad rep on TikTok occasionally because they’re portrayed as cheap. They can be so, for sure, but it all depends on how you plan it. If you bring a top-level picnic with snacks and choose a picturesque route, then you’ll have no issues fighting those allegations. Just make sure to pack everything in reusable containers.
- Dinner at a low carbon emission restaurant that is plant-based and aims to source all or most of their produce locally. That way, you can still have a classic dinner but make it eco-friendly.
- Farmer’s markets are romantic, chill, and safe. It’s a public space with lots of people around, snacking options are top-tier, and you can support your local farmers. It’s a trifecta!
- Museum visits are another sustainable gem. You get to see great art, learn something new, and have a topic of conversation to ease down the first-day awkwardness.
- Thrifting and donating have turned into somewhat of a monster that’s sometimes doing more harm than good. However, there’s still so much good in thrifting responsibly. Plan a date where you browse a few town’s favorites to see if you can find something specific you wanted for a long time or a piece that could be a great present for someone in your life with a birthday coming up.
- Volunteering is something you should do out of pure desire to change the world for the better. However, if you and your match share passions – why not go on a date that will also help the community or change someone’s life? That will be a great memory for both of you, whether or not the romance works out.
Tip: Don’t panic if you can’t make your date 100% sustainable. Having even a part of it be conscious is already a great help to the planet.
Low-Waste Romance Tips
You’re all set to go on a date. You have a plan, you have a perfect person to join you, and life is good! To make it even better, here are bonus tips to make your romances low-waste without killing the spark.
- Skip plastic flowers or bouquets. Plastic flowers are tacky. There, we said it. Don’t hate us. Bouquets are better but there are also many issues with how they’re sourced and delivered to our cities. The supply chain is not sustainable most of the time. Potted plants are much better alternatives as they won’t die after a couple of days and will be a cute reminder of the time you had when you gifted them.
- Any gifts you bring – go for reusable fabrics and recycled paper. It can be just as cute and also meaningful.
- If you’re eating out, skip cafes that serve food with single-use cutlery and plates.
- Choose a tricky recipe that’s fun to cook and make a date out of it. It will be romantic, cost-effective, and good for the planet.
- Consider your commuting options. How far is the date from where you live? Can you walk comfortably? What about a bike? Are there reliable and safe public transport options? Sometimes there’s no other choice than taking a car, but other times there are more sustainable options, including carpooling.
Sustainable Style & Grooming
If you want to be sustainable all the way, you can tweak the way you get ready for the date to make it more eco-friendly.
- Wear secondhand or ethically made clothes.
- Go for personal care products with plastic-free or refillable packaging.
- Embrace a minimalist grooming routine with clean, cruelty-free products.
- Avoid sprays in deodorants, hair products, and anything else.
- Turn off the water while you’re shampooing your hair or brushing your teeth.
Dating Apps with a Purpose
There’s nothing wrong with any approach to dating. Whether you’re out there looking for casual hookups, one-night stands, or the love of your life and future spouse, – those are all valid options.
Regardless of what your dating goal is right now, it’s always good to date consciously and with a purpose in mind. If you like someone and you have a deep, value-based connection, such as environmental kick, there’s a fair chance you’ll have a much better time with this person than with someone who’s simply hot and that’s it.
There are dating apps for anyone and everyone out there, so as you start dating, do a little bit of digging and find a platform that matches your current needs. Flure, for instance, pioneers intentional connections, and it does so by encouraging authentic profiles, and thoughtful prompts, and promoting mindful dating habits in its blog.
The way a dating app positions itself will tell you a lot about the experience you’re going to have with it. Watch out for cues and features that platforms provide and go for the ones that value mindful dating.
Final thoughts
Sustainable dating is not about perfection – it’s about progress and alignment. If you have values that tell you to be more cautious of the way you date and what carbon footprint it creates, great. Lean into those values and priorities, but don’t beat yourself up if you can’t be perfect every time.
Dating with eco-values should not be a challenge but rather a way to attract the right kind of people to you. Treat it as a fun way to deepen your connection while doing something good for the Earth.
We hope this article helped you get inspired to date more sustainably and have fun while doing it. Feel free to share this article with anyone interested, including your perfect match you found on Flure and plan out the best date yet!