As Halloween approaches quickly, each of us, who celebrate Halloween, is breaking out some old traditions. Some of these traditions include carving pumpkins, getting dressed up, and decorating. As fun as Halloween traditions are, this doesn’t stop the impending doom this planet has and the ways we can slow it down. So, I challenged myself to have a more eco-friendly Halloween. Now, I challenge you to keep the planet in mind as you embark on all your fun Halloween activities.
PAINT INSTEAD OF CARVE
I know it is so tempting to shove a knife into the plump pumpkin to create a creative and spooky face, but this can actually be pretty wasteful. Exposing the pumpkin’s insides to oxygen makes it rot quicker. If the pumpkin is painted on, there is more creative freedom away from a jagged knife and the pumpkin will last longer. Wouldn’t you rather paint a spooky scene than carve one?
MAKE PUMPKIN RECIPES AND COMPOST THE REST
Tons of acres of land are used to make pumpkins, but at the end of the day, we only use them for a month and toss them. After the spooky season is over, make sure your pumpkin doesn’t go to waste. To prevent food waste, you can make sure to utilize your pumpkin for its full intent by cutting it open and making roasted pumpkin seeds or pumpkin puree to put into all of your favorite pumpkin recipes. Are you not a chef? The best way to toss it would be to compost! Make sure the paint, stickers, and anything non-compostable is off the pumpkin and find your local compost facility so that your pumpkin doesn’t fully go to waste.
MAKE SURE YOUR COSTUME IS NOT A ONE TIME USE; THRIFT OR USE WHAT YOU HAVE
If you are dressing up this Halloween, make sure your costume is not used only once. I would suggest thrifting your Halloween costume or using what you already have. This is a great way to save money and the environment by not consuming fast fashion. I know so many thrift stores such as Incahoots Vintage Clothing, Goodwill, Savers, etc that have a plethora of Halloween costumes to choose from. Sometimes I choose to buy a clothing item online that I know I will wear and continue to wear until it rips or I will give it away to women’s shelters and used clothes store to be loved by someone else. It must be said, using the clothes you already have is so much better for your wallet and the environment.
Although these are the three main ways to make sure the planet is not further harmed during this Halloween season, there are many other ways that you can help. After Halloween, invite your friends to do a trash pick-up (people like to litter on holidays involving partying), donate any uneaten candy, keep your decorations for as long as you can, and make sure to keep your costumes away from cultural appropriation (it’s not funny or cute).