This Valentine’s Day, love isn’t just about romance — it’s about celebrating everyone who means the world to you. Whether it’s your mom, sister, best friend, or even yourself, why not show your love with gifts that are thoughtful, meaningful, and kind to the planet?
From handcrafted accessories to nourishing Ayurvedic skincare, here are six eco-friendly and sustainable gifts that express love while supporting artisans, small businesses, and a greener future.
1. Home decor pieces
When 35-year-old artist Renjini Thampi founded ‘Vapasee’ in 2021, she had a simple yet powerful mission: to turn waste into beauty. She collects discarded glass bottles, coconut shells, metal, and wood — often from scrap dealers or donation drives — and transforms them into breathtaking home décor pieces.
From lamps and side tables to clocks and bowls, each creation carries a story of transformation. Thoughtful, functional, and planet-friendly — these pieces make for a truly unique Valentine’s gift that’s both personal and sustainable.
2. Eco-friendly bags
What if your bag had a story as unique as your love?
In 2015, Gurugram-based architect Gautam Malik (44) founded ‘Jaggery Bags’ with his wife Bhavana, and mother Dr Usha. His sustainable startup creates fashionable and durable bags from discarded materials like old car seat belts, cargo belts, inflatable castles, decommissioned army truck tarps, and textiles such as Kantha and Mashru silk.
Gautam shares, “Jaggery is widely used in India as a healthy alternative to sugar. My startup’s philosophy is also the same — to provide a healthy substitute.” The bags are a perfect blend of eco-friendliness and style, making them ideal gifting options. The use of upcycled materials makes it all the more meaningful!
3. Soy wax candles
Launched in 2020, Rad Living is the brainchild of Seema Arora and her son Vineet. Together, they create hand-poured, natural soy wax candles, infused with premium hand-picked fragrances.
“Soy wax candles burn slower than paraffin candles, last longer, and are better carriers of scents or fragrances. In its entirety, soy wax is a sustainable option,” says Vineet.
The containers are reusable, and the leftover wax can be cleaned and repurposed for other decorative uses, making them a perfect eco-friendly gift. Thoughtful, elegant, and comforting — what better way to light up someone’s day?
4. Kasuti embroidery sarees and shawls
Some gifts hold a deeper meaning — like the elegance of a handwoven saree or shawl adorned with intricate Kasuti embroidery. Perfect for your mother, sister, wife, or any special woman in your life, these pieces celebrate tradition, craftsmanship, and timeless beauty.
Founded by Arati Hiremath, ‘Artikrafts’ revives this centuries-old embroidery, empowering women artisans in Karnataka. Every motif is meticulously hand-stitched, requiring patience and precision. “The artisan counts the threads for each pattern — it takes months to master the technique,” Arati explains.
A Kasuti-embroidered piece isn’t just a gift — it’s a heritage wrapped in love, making it a truly special choice for someone who appreciates tradition and artistry.
5. Ayurvedic skincare
Love is care, and the best way to express that is with skincare rooted in nature.
For Amritha Gaddam, the journey to launching ‘Tribe Concepts’ in 2019 was deeply personal. Struggling with PCOS, she turned to Ayurvedic remedies recommended by her father, an Ayurvedic doctor. Seeing the profound changes in her skin, she knew she had to share this wisdom with the world.
Using potent natural ingredients like red sandalwood, nutmeg, and saffron, Tribe Concepts creates 100% natural skincare products free from harmful chemicals. “In Ayurveda, the changes are not overnight,” Amritha says, “but you’ll see a difference.”
From miracle hair oils to collagen-boosting face masks, these products nourish the skin gently and effectively, making them an ideal Valentine’s gift that pampers and heals.
6. Pine needle handicrafts
Every summer, Uttarakhand’s forests face devastating fires caused by dried pine needles accumulating on the forest floor. In 2020, Dr Nupur Poharkar and her sister Sharvari saw an opportunity to turn this crisis into a solution. They launched ‘PIRUL Handicrafts’, training over 100 rural women to collect these needles and transform them into stunning handicrafts.
From tea coasters and handbags to storage boxes and table mats, each piece is crafted using traditional coiling techniques. “Our products have also become popular for their durability and better finish compared to other eco-friendly products like bamboo,” Nupur explains.
A gift from PIRUL Handicrafts doesn’t just support artisans — it also helps protect Uttarakhand’s forests.
Edited by Khushi Arora
