Halloween is just one day away and that means plenty of Brits will be going all-out on spooky costumes, fancy dress themed parties and trick or treating.
But while Halloween can be one of the most exciting holidays of the year, it can also be one of the most wasteful. Plastic sweet wrappers, disposable accessories and outfits that are thrown away the next day all play a big part in unnecessary waste.
How can you celebrate Halloween (and be kinder to the planet) without having to eliminate any of the fun?
Find out how with our top 3 eco-friendly tips to celebrate Halloween and minimise your negative impact on the environment at the same time:
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1. Create your own Halloween Costume
There are plenty of Halloween costumes out there to choose from, but did you know that many of these outfits are made on the other side of the world (mainly with plastic based fabrics) and that a lot of them are disposed of after the Halloween party? To avoid this, create your own costume from recycled or recyclable materials! Take a trip into town and find a second-hand/charity shop to purchase some old clothes and fabrics which can be used to create your own unique costume. You’ll be able to find brilliant DIY costumes and inspiration using social media sites such as Instagram and Pinterest. We’ve seen some great tutorials for spooky makeup looks on YouTube too! Once you’ve worn your costume, don’t throw it out! Keep it for the following year, lend it to a friend or donate it to your local school or theatre’s costume department. |
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2. Bake Eco-Friendly Treats Is Halloween worth celebrating without the assortment of sweets you get? We all know treats reign supreme on this day, whether they’re for your friends, family or just for the trick or treaters who knock on your door – there are plenty of ways to consume sweets more responsibly! You can always opt for sweets without food additives and animal gelatine by carefully reading the products’ description or by buying directly from ethical websites – Fairtrade products are a great option and are often packaged responsibly. Remember to buy all products in bulk to minimise your own carbon footprint, as well as reduce the amount of packaging needed to transport your sweets. Or why not bake your own Halloween cakes and sweets? If you’re looking for some delicious inspiration, visit the BBC Good Food website for some great recipe ideas. |
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3. Throw an Eco-Friendly Halloween Party
Halloween is no fun without your friends and family. So why not make your own eco-friendly decorations to show off? Decorate your house with locally grown pumpkins and don’t forget to cook the pumpkin flesh to reduce food waste! You can use the pumpkin flesh to create some tasty meals – like pumpkin hummus or pie! When you’re out collecting sweets, bring some reusable bags or costume accessory with you as an alternative to plastic bags and make sure you recycle the sweet wrappers – you’ll not only be helping the planet but you will save money too! |
So to conclude this blog, here’s a summary of how to make your Halloween eco-friendly this year:
- Create your own costume using second-hand materials.
- Don’t throw your costume out! Someone will want it!
- Try sweets without food additives and animal gelatine.
- Buy all items in bulk to minimise wasteful packaging.
- Bake your own Halloween treats and cakes.
- Decorate your house with eco-friendly decorations.
- Recycle sweet wrappers and bring reusable bags with you whilst your out trick or treating.
- Go pumpkin picking!
We hope you find these Eco-Friendly Halloween tips helpful! If you would like to find out how we’re participating in the eco-friendly movement, visit our eco page found here.
Have a safe Halloween!
