While holidays like Christmas and Halloween can bring so much joy, they also often result in an excess of waste that ends up in landfills. With organizations like the U.N. sounding the alarm on climate change, it’s more important than ever to be conscious of consumption and take steps to reduce our overall carbon footprint. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to have a happy, green Halloween — without all the waste.
Make Halloween Greener With These Eco-Friendly Tips
Here are some tips for going green this Halloween:
1. Make Your Own Reusable Mugs
Reducing the amount of single-use plastic you use is a great way to help the environment by cutting down on waste. This Halloween, get crafty with your kiddos (or by yourself!) and make your own witchy reusable mugs. These mugs were created by designer Rae Dunn, but you could definitely try making your own spooky spin-off using plain mugs and paint from your local craft store.
2. Get Thrifty for Your Costume
Instead of buying a new Halloween costume made from plastic and other harmful materials, try putting together your own costume from a local thrift shop. Better yet, make your own like Connie from Styling the Centuries did. The process will be way more fun and creative, plus you’ll save money and cut down on waste — it’s a win, win, win! Some fun costume ideas apropos of 2021 include Cruella de Vil, Daphne Bridgerton, Olivia Rodrigo in the Good 4 U music video and Beth Harmon from the Queen’s Gambit.
3. Avoid The Typical Trick-or-Treat Candy Options
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When it comes to trick-or-treating, most people go with the typical big-name candy options that are wrapped in plastic. However, there are many more eco-friendly alternatives, which may take a bit more time and effort, but the kids and the environment will thank you.
For example, you could buy chocolates or candies in bulk and package them yourself in paper or muslin bags. There are also some candy options that come in paper boxes or foil wrappers, which are more eco-friendly than the typical plastic packaging. If you have kids and they’ll be trick-or-treating this year, equip them with reusable Halloween totes as an eco-friendly alternative to disposable bags.
4. Have Fun With Green Halloween Crafts
Part of the fun of Halloween is getting a chance to flex your creative muscles and get crafty just for the fun of it. If you have littles in your life, or are up for a solo crafting session, why not make something cute and spooky like these ghost leaves by Woodlark? Not only are they adorable and fun to make, but ghost leaves are a super low-waste and sustainable option that will help you reconnect with nature.
5. Opt For Eco-Friendly Decorations For a Green Halloween
Another way to avoid plastic this year is to decorate your home using eco-friendly materials like old newspaper, toilet paper tubes, yarn and objects found in nature. Net Zero Co. recommends making bats by cutting up old newspaper and painting it black, using white yarn for spiderwebs and carving real pumpkins and gourds for a spooky yet eco-friendly touch.
Cheers to going green this Halloween 🥂! This month we’re toasting to simple ways to live an eco-friendly lifestyle. Try being a weekday vegan to help the environment, or use an eco-friendly search engine like Ecosia that plants trees with each click!
