Tips for a Green Halloween

Halloween can be an expensive and wasteful experience, but it doesn’t need to be. I’m not the Grinch; I love holidays and I have a great time dressing up each year, I just think the problematic side of Halloween needs to be addressed.

Whilst at first thought it may seem like lollies and decorations are the worst culprits of waste generation, plastic lurks in the costumes as well. They are often made from nylon, polyester, acrylic and other synthetic fibers. In fact, a study done by UK charity Hubbub found that 83% of the material used was polluting, oil-based plastic likely to end up in landfill.

In a time where we are so well educated on matters of environmental importance such as global warming and plastic waste, there is really no excuse for manufacturers and retailers to be injecting such a massive dose of pollution into our ecosystems. Yet of course, demand for production always stems from the consumer, so it is vital that we take a stand and demand that we want to see recyclable, compostable and non-plastic alternatives.

Here are some ideas to help you create a spooky, eco-friendly Halloween at your home:

DIY and Second Hand Costumes
How futile it is to purchase a new costume each year, only to be worn once and then discarded! Challenge yourself to get creative, and make your own costumes from what you already have at home. Or, if creativity isn’t your strong suit, make a trip to your local second-hand store to see what they have on hand. You can use old uniforms, sheets, your Oktoberfest outfit, or even dress as a zombie baby. Everything is scary if you just add blood!

Greenify your Decorations
Most decorations are made from plastic. This means that they won’t breakdown and will build up in our landfills or leach into our oceans. It’s easy to create eco-friendly decorations. If you need a few ideas, make bats out of black cardboard and string, create spider webbing from stockings, yarn or orange bags, and build tombstones out of cardboard boxes. 

Plastic-Free Treats
It’s tricky to buy Halloween treats that aren’t individually wrapped in plastic, I get it. However, there are a few things you can do to make your choices more sustainable and lessen your impact. No, I don’t mean wrapping up brussel sprouts and handing them out to children passing by. I’m talking about buying locally produced foods and candy. Choose goodies that have minimal packaging, or those that are packaged in recyclable material. Another great idea is to buy a pick ‘n mix that you can put straight into your own paper bag.

Trick or Treat Bags
This one goes without saying. Wipe out the use of plastic trick or treat buckets. There are so many alternatives. Use washed icecream tubs, pillow cases or canvas bags that can be reused.

Throw a Green Halloween Party
If perhaps you’re too old for trick or treating but still want to celebrate, throw your own green Halloween party to raise awareness. Implement some basic sustainability rules – BYO silverware, drink only from cans or glass bottles, prepare locally sourced dishes, use compostable plates and run your own DIY costume competition!

Halloween doesn’t have to be a wasteful holiday. Don’t forget to reuse as much as possible – save your favourite costumes and decorations for use again next year.  With a little bit of thought we can turn our holidays into conscious, sustainable affairs. It’s up to us to do our part.