At this time of year, during the bleak midwinter of the Northern Hemisphere, Valentine’s Day can stir warm, romantic endeavors. Sadly, such intentions often carry with them an unnecessarily large environmental footprint in the form of cut flowers, which often originate in nations with lax environmental and labor laws, and chocolates, which are made from cocoa, a plant which frequently suffers from similar environmental abuses.

Gift trees from such fine organizations as Friends of Trees are a green alternative which may seem less romantic upon first consideration but can yield lasting results and deserve your retail focus. Because the trees planted through the gift trees program of Friends of Trees are allowed to thrive sustainably as part of a reforestation project in Oregon, you and your special someone will know not only that you have helped sequester carbon, filter water and clean the air for everyone but that your green investment will grow in size and influence each year, a fact you can revisit the next time Valentine’s Day comes around.

You’ll find all of the necessary details at

FriendsofTrees.org/GiftTrees

Part of my success as an environmentalist is my pragmatism. I know full well that I will not dissuade everyone from sending cut flowers and chocolates this Valentine’s Day simply by explaining the facts. So, if you are not convinced that gift trees are every bit as romantic as traditional cut flowers and chocolates, might I persuade you to limit your purchase to items certified by the Rainforest Alliance?

The Rainforest Alliance is one of many very fine organizations which strive to raise awareness of the importance of protecting and restoring the world’s rainforests. As I am so fond of reminding you, dear reader, it is not enough to convince people of the importance of living in harmony with nature. We also must give them practical alternatives. This is why the certification program from The Rainforest Alliance is such a growing success.

The good people at The Rainforest Alliance are engaged in comprehensive advocacy in support of rainforests throughout Latin America. They have earned my success. The additional good news is that many retailers now participate in the certification program, making it easy to shop the way you ordinarily would but by choosing products you know have been rendered with sound environmental and labor practices.

To learn more about the Rainforest Alliance and their certification program, just visit

rainforest-alliance.org

Fomenting the Triple Bottom Line

Corbett Kroehler