There’s a lot of advice out there on how to have a green Halloween. Unfortunately some of it recommends forsaking handing out candy in favor of acorns. While we’re all about staying as sustainable as possible,there is a line. Cross that line, and you’re likely to get egged, which, frankly, is a waste of eggs and not very sustainable either.
You don’t have to sacrifice a spooktacular Halloween in favor of staying green. There are easy steps to keep it sustainable on the sly! Your kids will never notice!
Get Creative With Your Decorations
Try to get all of your pumpkins locally, as transportation emissions can be bad news for the environment.
Sustainable style has never been easier. But best of all, it’s fun for the whole family! Dedicate a pre-Halloween weekend to decorating your home with DIY projects that use recycled materials and a bit of creativity. After the holiday, stash them in the garage and re-use them again next year!
Candy cane vases via The Swell Designer
Mummy Cereal Boxes via Then She Made
Halloween mason jars via Landee See Landee Do
Mountain Dew witches broom via Instructables
Recycled milk carton ghosts via Making Memories With Your Kids
Ghost doilies via Green Owl Art
Upcycled Pallets For Halloween
If you like to turn your entire house into a haunted playground come October, keep an eye out for wooden pallets! Grocery stores and garden centers are likely to have them in abundance, so next time you’re grabbing the groceries or heading over to the Home Depot, ask a staff member if they have any to spare. Not only are you preventing pallets from heading to a landfill, you can make THE BEST Halloween decorations.
Avoid Textile Waste By Getting Thrifty
Textile waste is a big problem at Halloween, because much like a wedding gown, nobody really wants to wear their costume twice. 85% of textile waste goes to landfills in the US, so don’t trash last year’s costume — donate it to the Goodwill! And while you’re there, pick up a new costume! You’re recycling your textiles, and giving back to a good cause!
Be sure to check out Craigslist and Ebay if you can’t find something you like in a thrift shop. Or just don a red sweater and fake mustache and go as this year’s superhero, Ken Bone.
Candy
Leave the candy alone. But use a fabric bag to collect candy, not plastic!
Happy Halloween!
Based in Southern California, Amy is the sort of annoying hippie you find fermenting pickles and trying to spike her husband's meals with kale. She's also written for The Huffington Post, MindBodyGreen, and The Frisky.
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