As Halloween approaches, the excitement for fun costumes, eerie decorations, and visits to the pumpkin patch is in the air. However, it's essential to be mindful of the environmental impact that often accompanies this holiday. This Halloween, let's explore some creative and eco-friendly alternatives to reduce plastic waste and make your spooky celebrations more sustainable.
DIY and Reusable Halloween Costumes
This Halloween, you can have a spooky celebration and stay sustainable by rethinking your costume choices! Here are a few fun and eco-friendly ways to dress up without creating waste:
Buying Secondhand – Thrift stores and second-hand shops are treasure troves for unique costume pieces, and you'll find them at a fraction of the cost. Plus, you're giving pre-loved items a second life—how sustainable is that?
Renting – Why buy a costume you'll only wear once? Many local costume shops and online services offer rentals, so you can dress up without the waste. Once Halloween is over, simply return it!
Borrowing – Raid your friend’s or family’s closet for the perfect costume! Borrowing outfits means that those one-time purchases get reused, and you save money while keeping things eco-friendly. It’s a win-win!
DIY & Upcycling – Some of the most creative costumes are homemade! Dive into your wardrobe and get crafty, turning old clothes or materials into something spooky. You’ll have a one-of-a-kind costume that doesn’t add to the waste pile.
Eco-Friendly Trick-or-Treating
Candy can have a bad (w)rap, especially when they are coated in plastic. Approximately 600 million pounds of candy that Americans purchase on Halloween contribute immensely to our plastic pollution problem [1]. To help lower that number, here are some plastic-free Halloween candy ideas for your Trick or Treaters:
Boxed Candy - Junior Mints, Milk Duds, Nerds, Sour Patch Kids, and SweeTarts… just to name a few.
Foil Candy - 100% aluminum wrappers are recyclable (they must be at least the size of a golf ball to be recycled). Treats such as chocolate coins, chocolate bars, chocolate kisses, and more.
Candy Alternatives - For those not fond of candy, there are plenty of eco-friendly alternatives for you too! Plastic-free toys, pencils, woven friendship bracelets, and more. Get creative!
Homemade Treats – For hosting, opt to make your own treats at home or wrap them in compostable packaging.
Sustainable Halloween Decorations
Everyone loves some haunting Halloween decor; however, a lot of this decoration can be single-use plastic that gets immediately thrown away in November. Luckily, plastic-free Halloween decorations are more simple than one might think. Here are a handful of ideas to keep your decorations more sustainable:
Buy used -You can find plenty of vintage or cool decorations at a secondhand or thrift store. Our local thrift store is loaded with decor and I’m sure yours is too, you never know what kind of treasures you may find.
DIY/Crafting - Let your imagination run free and make your decorations from things you have at home. You can turn cardboard, cloth, or paper into paper bats, sheet ghosts, or broomsticks and keep your decorations more eco-friendly.
Pick some pumpkins - They are the perfect decoration and they can be composted once their job is done. Carve them into spooky faces or use little pumpkins as table decoration.
Low-Waste Halloween Party
Throw a Halloween party that’s not just spooky but also sustainable! Here are some simple ways to make sure your celebration is low-waste and eco-friendly:
Eco-Friendly Party Games – Get creative with Halloween party games that don’t generate waste! Think scavenger hunts, DIY craft stations using recycled materials, or bobbing for apples. These activities are fun and won’t leave behind plastic waste.
Small goody bags - Many refill grocery stores have candy in bulk bins that you can purchase (just don’t forget to bring a container or reusable bag). Add them to some clean glass jars or add them to a reusable bag.
Eco-friendly Food – Serve up treats that leave a smaller footprint. Source snacks locally and focus on all-natural and plant-based options.
Sustainable Party Supplies - Avoid single-use plastics by using eco-friendly Halloween supplies like biodegradable plates and bamboo utensils. For drinks, skip plastic cups and opt for reusable glasses or compostable alternatives. You’ll reduce waste while still making sure your guests enjoy a hauntingly good time.
Start your sustainability journey this Halloween with our collection of biodegradable tableware!
Green Cleaning After Halloween
After the spooky fun is over, keeping your Halloween cleanup sustainable is a breeze with these eco-friendly tips:
Compost Organic Waste – Whether it's leftover food, pumpkin scraps, or biodegradable decorations, composting is a great way to turn Halloween waste into something useful. Set up a compost bin to keep these items out of landfills and give back to the earth!
Recycle & Donate Decorations – Instead of tossing out your Halloween decorations, consider recycling materials like paper, cardboard, or glass. If you have reusable decorations in good condition, donate them to a local school, community center, or thrift store so they can be enjoyed next year.
Use Compostable Trash Bags – For waste that can’t be reused or composted, opt for compostable trash bags. They’re the perfect eco-friendly solution for easy cleanup without plastic waste. Pair this with plastic-free cleaning supplies to keep your home and the planet spotless!
By making these small changes, you’ll can enjoy a Sustable Halloween that doesn’t haunt the environment for years to come. Celebrate Halloween with less waste! Shop our compostable and biodegradable tableware options to make your party sustainable.
Citations
[1] Durbin, D.A., & The Associated Press. (2022, October 29). Your Halloween candy wrappers will likely end up in a landfill but don’t blame recyclers: ’It’s got to be profitable. These guys aren’t social workers.’ Fortune. https://fortune.com/2022/10/29/halloween-candy-wrappers-landfill-recycling-environment/
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