How to Have a Sustainable Halloween

Tis the season for spook and scare! Halloween is just around the corner and we're already getting excited for the candy, costumes and horror movies. With all the fun Halloween brings, it can also bring a lot of waste in the form of trash, single-use plastics and non-recyclable decorations. We have compiled a guide to help you celebrate Halloween while also being kind to the planet. 

Your Costume

While the pre-made costumes look flashy, they are often unethically made and are single-use, being thrown away after Halloween ends. For a more unique and ethical alternative, consider making your own costume! 

Use What You Have: Instead of buying new, try and use what you already have. Old jeans, cardboard from the recycling bin, egg cartons and more can all be turned into a spooky costume with some creativity, paint and hot glue!

Thrifting: For what you don't have, hit up your local thrift store! You're not only guaranteed to find some unique stuff, you're also preventing clothing and other items from ending up in a landfill.

Costume and Prop Swap: Share props, costumes and clothes with friends and family! Before buying new, see if someone you know can lend you an item or consider trading last year's costumes.

Reusable Trick-Or-Treat Bag: Instead of buying a plastic pumpkin or using a one-use bag, send your kids trick-or-treating with a reusable grocery bag or the classic pillowcase. It's more eco-friendly and can hold way more candy!

Rent a Costume: If you're looking for something more elaborate than you can DIY, consider enlisting the help of a local business and rent your costume.

Compostable, Recyclable and Reusable Decorations

Halloween decorations are a great way to get in a spooky mood however the decorations we most commonly see can be wasteful and even toxic. Change things up with decorations that are both spooky and kind to the planet! 

Biodegradable: The best way to have a small eco footprint while decorating this Halloween us by using biodegradable decorations! Some examples include unpainted and untreated pumpkins, corn husks, leaves, and reclaimed wood.

Recyclable: The next best things are decorations that can be recycled and/or are made from recycled materials. Old bed sheets, cardboard, bottles, old mason jars and more!

Reusable: If you're looking for something a bit more extravagant, invest in some good quality Halloween decorations that can be stored and used season after season.

Second Hand: Around this time of year there's often a surplus of spooky decorations flooding the shelves. Before buying new, check out your local thrift store to get your decorations at a bargain and prevent them from ending up in a landfill.

Consider Wildlife

Many of the ways we celebrate Halloween can be harmful to local wildlife without us realizing it, protect your furry neighbours and avoid these common practices. 

Light and Noise Pollution: Keep light and noise pollution to a minimum. Bright lights and loud holiday tunes can be disruptive and disorientating to local wildlife. Avoid flashing lights and instead opt for lights that are focused on the house instead of at trees or other foliage and that are fixed in one place.

Avoid Fake Cobwebs: Fake cobwebs can be a death trap for animals such as birds, bats and squirrels! Keep the fake cobwebs inside the home to avoid injuring wildlife.

Jack-O-Lanterns: This classic Halloween decoration will be seen as an all-you-can-eat buffet for local wildlife! Keep pumpkins inside the house and display them in the windows to avoid attracting wildlife to your yard. If pumpkins are left outside, avoid using paint or other chemicals that may harm wildlife when ingested. Another good tip is keep pumpkins away from the front door to prevent unwanted encounters with the more curious furry friends.

Leave No Trace

The most important part of having a sustainable Halloween is to leave no trace. When the hustle and bustle of the season is over, try to keep your environmental impact to a minimum by properly handling waste. 

Candy: Arguably the best part of Halloween is the candy! Where possible, give out candy that is wrapped in either a recyclable or compostable wrapper and ensure all wrappers are disposed of properly.

Decorations: Once November 1st rolls around and the festivities are over, ensure that all decorations are dealt with appropriately. Compost your pumpkins, recycle what you can and safely store away the rest. Avoid using decorations that are difficult to remove such as cobwebs and glitter.

We hope you have a happy (and sustainable) Halloween! Follow us on Instagram and sign up for our newsletter for information on events and promotions.