Ideas for Eco-Friendly Dates // Zero Waste Date Night

Whether you’re dating someone, married, or just want to go out with friends, here are some eco-friendly date ideas for all interests. This is just 15 ideas I could come up with so leave your ideas below so I can make a part two and make this its own series!

Date nights don’t have to be wasteful and many of these can be low cost or even free. Yay for zero waste on a budget! Let’s get to it.

Paint pottery

This date idea is so fun for everyone whether you’re an artist or not. The pottery is already made, you just do the painting. The staff even handles the glazing and firing, you do the fun and easy parts! You get to pick your own colors, designs, and the piece you want to take home with you. You could even paint each other a gift or something that reminds you of them. And, what a fun way to support a local business.

Movie

A classic date night. It’s usually a decent price (go to a matinee for more money savings), fun, and entertaining. It’s also great that it can give you a topic of discussion for the rest of the day. If you bring/buy candy, look for a low-waste option such as something that comes in a box or with minimal packaging or even something that is vegan.

If you want a lower-cost or at-home option, watch a movie at home! You could stream something from a platform you already use, watch a DVD you already own, or even borrow a DVD for free from your local library.

Pair this with making dinner together or a dessert and have a full at-home date night.

Theme park

This is a fun and adventurous date for all ages and it really shows you who that person is under stress and excitement! The only waste this will create is the ticket for admission. Avoid gimmicky merch and expensive food, most parks will let you bring in coolers upon inspection if you want to save money and reduce waste. They may also let you bring in your own water, too.

Plus, if it’s a little bit of a drive, this gives you time to chat in the car, maybe support a local restaurant before or after, and enjoy some of your favorite music or podcasts.

Make candles

Candles are so much fun to make solo or with a date. You can go out to a candle-making shop where they can help you or it’s super easy to do at home, too. You will need wax, wicks, and a jar. Optionally you can also add scents and colors. Everly refill kits make this super easy to do at home or you can buy all the supplies separately and make several candles.

It’s fun, easy, and you get to learn a new skill. Plus, if you do it the DIY way and not the Everly way, it takes a bit of time which can be fun to play a game or just chat with one another. When you’re done, now you have gifts for one another or lovely handmade candles to light on your next at-home date night.

Cook together

Another great one for at-home date nights, cook together! I think this is great to learn about one another’s skills. Maybe someone is better at baking. Maybe someone is a really good chopper. Combine your skills and interests and try cooking something new and learn to work together. Throw on some music, light your homemade candles, and support a local winery and you have the perfect stay-in date night.

Make it vegan and/or support local farmers for extra reduced waste as well as use regular plates, cups, and utensils instead of disposables.

Support a local restaurant

Maybe you’re not-so-talented in the kitchen or you want a break from cooking, go out instead but make it sustainable. I’m not saying that a small business is perfectly zero waste, but they are inherently less wasteful than franchises like Olive Garden. Plus, it’s higher quality, usually more locally procured, and you also get to support a small business.

Make it fancy, make it quick, whatever you prefer, but make it fun and new to you!

Bonus points if they use reusable plates, cups, bowls, and utensils and have vegan or vegetarian options!

Go on a hike

Date nights don’t have to involve staring into each other’s eyes, it can be about doing something challenging together (well, hikes don’t have to be challenging either). Get outside, explore a new area, and enjoy a walk in the woods together. The only waste here is the gas to get to and from the trailhead! You can even make your own snacks and bring your reusable water bottles.

Explore somewhere new, get to know your plant and animal neighbors, and enjoy some quality time together away from technology and the hustle and bustle of life.

Rent sports equipment and get outside

Another fun outdoor and active activity is outdoor rec like kayaking, paddle boarding, biking, or sports. The cheapest and most eco-friendly way to do this is by renting gear through your local outdoor rec center. No need to buy two mountain bikes if you’ll never go again or won’t go often, just rent them for a much lower cost and now you get to try a new hobby, too!

If you want more ways to eco-fy your hobbies, check out this video.

Local book store

Readers, this is for you! Go support your local bookstore with your loved one. Make it a more interactive experience by looking for a book for one another instead of browsing separately for yourself. I highly encourage you to find a locally owned bookstore instead of something large like Barnes and Noble. Again, a small store might not be perfect, but it’s inherently less wasteful than supporting corporate giants.

Make this a longer date by…

Go to a tea shop

Dan and I did this once in Spokane, it was so fun! We hit up the local bookstore and took our finds across the street to a local tea shop. They had so many fun teas to try and even tea flights so we could try multiple. They served everything loose leaf and in reusable dishes so it was super eco, super unique, and it was a fun small business to support. You can also usually play board games at these shops if you prefer interacting with one another.

Board game store and play a new game

Speaking of games, try finding a local board game store to support if you’re into games. Most often these stores will have tables where you can try new games before buying them or allow you to rent games before buying them.

This is a great low-waste activity plus a great way to get to know how each of you reacts under pressure and under competition. Don’t take it too seriously, have fun!

Just go to the library

This is even more low waste for book lovers out there and it’s totally free. You can browse together or borrow games or movies to take home and enjoy for the evening. Not to mention, some libraries also have events such as mending workshops, author book signings, and more so check your library for potential date night events!

Secondhand craft store and do a project together

Doing a craft or a project together can be so fun but it can also be so wasteful if you buy everything new, wrapped in plastic, and from a big box store. So, find a secondhand craft store (yay for supporting a small business, too) and get secondhand crafts to work with. You can paint pictures of one another, start a scrapbook of your memories, or make fake flower bouquets. The ideas are endless, Pinterest will be your friend here.

Stargazing

A classic. It’s romantic, it’s easy, it’s free, and it’s super low waste. You’ll just need to drive somewhere with dark skies, bring a blanket, and maybe bring some snacks and drinks. Go on a meteor shower night or go on any regular old day and try learning some constellations. You can even create your own! There are no rules to stargazing.

Go ice skating

I feel like this is a classic, too, and if you have an indoor rink near you, you can go any time of the year. In fact, it may be a fun summer activity to beat the heat. Maybe you’ll make a fool of yourself in front of your date or maybe you’ll impress them. Regardless, have fun and pair it with dinner at a small restaurant.

That’s all for today, thank you so much for reading along. I hope this inspires you to have fun date nights with less waste. Let us know your ideas down below!

As always, remember that your small actions make a big difference in the long run

Emma