With Halloween quickly approaching, I think it’s safe to say that we’re all looking forward to a semi-normal way to celebrate. Did you know that you can have as much fun on Halloween while still being eco-friendly? It’s true! I’ve compiled 5 major categories of tips to have a more eco-friendly Halloween below. Keep reading to find out what they are!
- Pumpkins
Pumpkins are one of the most iconic motifs found throughout the Halloween season. Remember though that they are completely edible, so if you carve one, save the seeds inside! They’re delicious when roasted, and a great way to prevent them from going to waste. If you don’t like the taste of pumpkins or are finished using your pumpkins, consider composting them, or leaving them out in the woods for some animals to eat. This, again, puts the pumpkin to a better use.
However, if you feed your pumpkins to animals, make sure that they are not painted whatsoever, as most paints are toxic and cannot be consumed. You might also want to cut the pumpkin up into smaller pieces so that deer don’t get their antlers stuck in it. Plus, more animals can eat the pumpkin.
- Costumes
You can’t have Halloween without costumes! However, most costumes are thrown away or not used after one use, which is incredibly wasteful both in an environmental and financial sense. To remedy this, you could borrow a costume from someone you know, so you can conserve resources. When you’re done with the costume, you can give it back, or donate it / pass it on.
Even better, you could DIY your costume! This will not only conserve several resources and benefit the environment, but will also assure that your costume is 100% unique to you. Making your own costume from scratch can be a great way to work on your creativity.
If your costume calls for face paint, avoid using the store-bought kind, as they contain several toxic materials that can contaminate water supplies when washed down the drain. Instead, you can find a recipe to make your own online.
- Transportation
If you’ve ever gone trick-or-treating extensively before, your main mode of transportation may have been a car or truck. However, this is an avoidable use of vehicles and unnecessarily contributes to the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions emitted by vehicles which cause climate change. So, this year, skip the car and use more environmentally-friendly methods of transportation like walking, biking, or even skateboarding. If you really can’t avoid using the car or truck, try to carpool as much as possible to reduce the amount of vehicles you use. I know that might not be the best idea with COVID and all, but for a normal year, it’s still a great suggestion.
- Treats
No kid’s night of trick-or-treating would be complete without the treats! It might not seem like it at first, but there are definitely ways to make giving out treats more eco-friendly. Try to find treats with less plastic packaging and less packaging overall, so less waste is created from consuming them. Also consider purchasing organic candies. They may be more expensive, but the environmental benefits (made with sustainable resources and practices, among others) greatly outweigh that.
If you wanted to get extra creative, you could make your own treats! That way, you have direct control over how eco-friendly (and healthy) they are. You could even make small gifts and give them out instead of candy. I think that’d be a really fun family project!
- Carrying treats
Chances are that you’ve used one of those plastic colored pumpkin baskets as your candy-carrying utensil. However (I’m sure you know what I’m going to say by now), these do not positively contribute to the environment in any shape, way, or form. They often break easily or are discarded, which is quite wasteful. Opt for a more eco-friendly carrying utensil this year, like an old pillowcase, which is usually larger than the typical plastic bucket, so you get more candy while not being wasteful. Other options include tote bags, purses, and so much more. You can even get creative with it and decorate or personalize your bag for more fun.
I hope these tips were helpful and that you use at least one this year and in the following years. Have a safe and happy Halloween, everyone!
Content Sources:
https://mindfulofthehome.com/eco-friendly-halloween/
https://greenerideal.com/guides/7-tips-to-celebrating-halloween-in-an-eco-friendly-way/
From One Human To Another 
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