5 tips to a Sustainable Halloween
Spending on junk and environmental unfriendly products during Halloween is more frightening than ghosts, goblins and ghouls.
Halloween is fun. You get to dress up as your favorite TV/movie character, you answer the door to adorable kids who are dressed as the Pope, Minions and even Superheroes. You hand out candies. You gather around your friends and family and watch (and re-watch) Hocus Pocus. What’s not to love? As much as we love Halloween, it is environmentally disastrous.
Buying those single-use costumes then throwing it away on November 1st is not so eco-friendly. Don’t forget the chocolate wrappers that are going to fill up the landfill. According to the National Retail Federation, we will spend $8.8 billion this year on Halloween, an average of $86.27 per shopper. That is a lot of single-use costumes and candies.
Read on to see our 5 tips to make your Halloween Sustainable:
Costumes
Don’t rush to the store to get those ‘trendy’ costumes that you will forget about and will end up in the landfill. Instead, shop your closet or swap costumes with your friends and families! Dress up as a ghost using your old bedsheets and don’t forget to dress the pets! If necessary to shop, shop at a thrift store, yard sales, estate sales or at a consignment store.
You can find some DIY Costumes ideas for babies here:
https://www.primary.com/diy?ref=nav_header_4
You can find some ideas for adults here:
https://www.brit.co/50-halloween-costumes-you-already-own/
Decorations
Most likely the decorations you purchase will be made of plastic that is not recyclable. So here are a few things you can do according to WWF:
· Turn stockings with runs into spider-webbing
· Paint foam peanuts (packing materials) and turn them into worms
· Clean Styrofoam and make Halloween masks
· Turn cardboard boxes into tombstones
· Make other creative decorations from netting from bags of oranges, cotton balls, leaves and branches from the yard, etc
· Reuse your decorations from the previous year
Candies/Treats
Get candies with minimal packaging or candies that use recycled packaging. While you’re at it try giving out sustainably sourced candies, candies made of natural, fair trade and/or organic ingredients. Companies like Alter Eco, Divine Chocolate and Equal Exchange make chocolates off organic and/or fair-trade ingredients. Additionally, instead of candies, you can give out healthier treats like organic granola bars, natural chewing gum, or organic juice packets.
Parties
Many turn to disposable items when it comes to parties. Instead, use washable/reusable utensils. There are also options for compostable plates, cups, and utensils. Make sure you get your recycling bin out for bottles and cans before guests come in. Buy locally grown and organic food (and pumpkin) for the party.
Trick-or-Treat Bags
Encourage kids to collect candies in household items like a bucket, pillowcase, or grocery tote bags.
What are your tips on Sustainable Halloween?
