As Halloween approaches, it is easy to get wrapped up in the excitement of it. What is there not to enjoy? There are costumes to plan, houses to decorate, and candy to eat. However, this also means that it can be easy to fall into the trap of consumerism and forget about our environmental footprints. Luckily, there are ways to approach Halloween with an eco-friendly attitude, so that all that is left over from Halloween this year are memories.
1) Go second hand shopping for your costumes. Not only is this better for the environment, but it also allows you to be creative as you search for the perfect pieces to put your costume together.
2) If you really cannot find what you need second hand, consider borrowing an old costume from a friend! There is bound to be someone who has an old superhero, cat, or pumpkin costume tucked away in their closet.
3) Rather than buying Halloween decorations, make your own! You can use old crafting supplies you or your friends have, as well as repurpose things from your recycling bin. Not to mention that DIYing your own decorations makes them more meaningful once you are finished them.
4) Bake your own Halloween treats! While you can’t give this away to trick-or-treaters, it is a great way to avoid the consequential waste that comes with snacking on Halloween candy.
5) Make the most of your pumpkins. For a delicious and nutritious snack, you can roast the pumpkin seeds in the oven. Once Halloween is over and your carved masterpiece needs to be thrown away, compost it in your curbside green bin and thus avoid organics going to the landfill (which releases methane into the atmosphere).
Happy Halloween!