Today is Halloween, and it’s time to go creepy. Halloween is derived from the term Hallowe’en, which means “holy evening” or “hallowed evening.” Halloween rituals are said to have originated from Celtic Harvest festivities of Samhain, however, some believe it developed independently as a Christian feast. Hundreds of years ago in Ireland, Halloween custom entailed carving pumpkins into jack-o’-lanterns to scare away evil spirits traveling through Irish farmland; since then, it has become a vegetable synonymous with the celebration, which Americans primarily enjoy.
It’s time to get out the pumpkins, cobwebs, and creativity because the Halloween season has here! Throwing a green Halloween party ensures that you have fun without negatively impacting the earth and fewer carbon footprints. Begin by sending electronic invitations rather than physical ones. Instead of using disposable glasses and utensils, seek recyclable or compostable plates, cups, and cutlery. Place recycling containers for bottles and cans. Buy organic and locally farmed food for the celebration, or go to your local farmers’ market.
With Halloween just around the corner, people are putting up festive decorations, creating creative methods to cook seasonal delicacies, and deciding which costume to wear. While the holiday season provides a lot of joy and fun, it’s also vital to recognize the massive quantity of trash created by candy wrappers, plastic décor, single-use costumes, and other items.
That being said, several methods exist to make Halloween more environmentally friendly. Here’s all you need to know to have more eco-friendly Halloween tips.
When October arrives, a trip to the pumpkin patch is generally on everyone’s must-do list. Visiting your local pumpkin patch is an excellent method to reduce emissions while searching for the right gourd.
Consider a few things whether you carve or paint your pumpkin. When carving, remember to keep the pumpkin seeds roast later, use the flesh in recipes, or compost them entirely. If you chose to paint them, be careful to use non-toxic paint.
Another approach to have a more environmentally responsible Halloween is to utilize regular home things as decorations. A short Pinterest search for “zero waste Halloween décor” turns up a plethora of inventive ideas, such as building terrifying bats out of toilet paper cores and construction paper, Halloween homes out of milk cartons, and friendly ghosts out of cans and ribbons.
If you don’t already have the supplies you need for Halloween projects, go to your local thrift store before buying new ones. Want to go one step further? Create with the end in mind, and build decorations that you can reuse next year or disassemble and discard after Halloween.
Finally, consider the full fall season rather than just Halloween. You may use your ornaments (such as gourds and leaves) for the Thanksgiving holiday as well. Because there is less effort and waste, this is a win-win situation.
Vegan candy is the way to go if you’re searching for something that doesn’t include any animal-derived products, which tend to be more unsustainable than plant-based ones. Even better, every grocery shop offers unintentionally vegan choices.
Additionally, keep a look out for Fair Trade chocolates and organic lollipops. Health food stores also have a huge selection of eco-friendly Halloween sweets. Just be aware that even though the components are more environmentally friendly, they could still be packaged in plastic. When feasible, choose packaged versions.
There is one technique to avoid mistakenly wearing the same costume as someone else. Make your costume by reusing and reimagining stuff you already own. Look around your basement, attic, garage, or closets for useful items. Boxes, sports equipment, clothing, fabric, and other home things are all possibilities. Then, just let your imagination go wild. Grades of Green, for example, suggests utilizing an old bridal dress for a zombie or an old yoga mat you were about to throw for a slice of pizza.
You may even borrow stuff from friends or family members if you’re missing that one piece that will ultimately complete your notion. Another option is to look into local thrift stores, antique shops, or costume rentals to bring your vision to reality (ideal for clothes, accessories, and props of all ages). You can even dress up like relatives, friends, or neighbors. Extended families, for example, can switch costumes among youngsters based on size, and the same method works for adults as well. This is a great approach to split costs and reuse what you already have.
You may also broaden your exchange network by inviting your friends to participate. This may be as simple as asking a friend if you can borrow their previous year’s outfit. You could also throw a costume exchange party and invite all of your pals. Whatever method you use, you will be exercising your imagination while saving money and minimizing food waste.
While it may be tempting to spend a few pounds/dollars on a plastic bucket for trick-or-treating, the plastic used to produce them is typically non-recyclable, and the flimsiness of the design usually means they don’t have much upcycling potential once Halloween is done. Using reusable bags, such as tote bags or pillowcases, for trick-or-treating is a far more environmentally responsible approach.
You may even design simple bags with your children to make them Halloween-themed by using paints, eco sequins, and fabric markers, which can be a fun activity in the lead-up to Halloween. These materials are far more sustainable, and if you don’t use them again the following year, you can easily recycle them and celebrate a sustainable Halloween.
There are several ways to go green this Halloween, including eco-friendly décor, eco-friendly goodies for your children, finding materials from thrift stores, and recycling old costumes. By giving some care to various parts of your Halloween celebration, you may substantially cut and minimize waste and make a significant difference on the earth.