Written by: Natalia Brown
Halloween is considered among the most wasteful holidays celebrated in the United States! Since nothing makes our skin crawl like avoidable plastic pollution, the DFO team has complied a list of festive low-waste tips. We hope that this resource will inspire you to try out environmentally friendly actions without having to compromise on your spooky celebration.
Decor
Plan your decorations with a fall harvest theme! Think gourds, pumpkins, leaves, branches, hay, and wicker baskets. If you don’t have any of these items on hand indoors, get some creative inspiration (and supplies) from outdoors! Autumn flora provide some of the most effortless, accessible decorations that can elevate the festivity of any space.
→ If you decide to carve jack-o-lanterns, save and roast the pumpkin seeds for some waste-diverting munchies!
→ If using edible food for indoor décor, re-purpose arrangements for a scrumptious meal after celebrating. You can whip up your very own take on a pumpkin-spiced latte, hearty seasonal scones, fall-inspired hummus, pumpkin and legume curry, or my personal favorite roasted side dish … the possibilities are endless!
→ Gourds used for outdoor décor can be composted after they’ve been enjoyed. The most sustainable way to discard inedible produce is to return those nutrients back to their source!
Giveaways
Each time a trick-or-treater knocks on your door, you can avoid the possibility of creating plastic pollution by offering candy packaged in recyclable single-serving cardboard boxes.
→ Although they may seem more sustainable, bulk candy or homemade sweets aren’t a good alternative because they could be unintentionally contaminated and are more likely to be discarded by your trick-or-treaters or their parents.
→ To divert any excess candy that you’re left with after the 31st from becoming landfill waste, look into candy buyback programs like this one that partners with dentists to send festive treats to overseas troops.
→ There are many reasons why many people seek alternatives to the conventional Halloween candy giveaway. Distributing loads of individually-wrapped sugar-laden treats is not the best for our health or our environment. Instead, you could hand out something shaped erasers, colorful wood pencils, or reusable straws!
→ For a creative take on a healthier package-free treat, we are loving these clementines with little jack-o-lantern expressions drawn on the outsides!
Costumes
According to the National Retail Federation, Americans are projected to spend upwards of $8.8 billion this Halloween. That comes down to an expense of $80+ per person … all spent on costumes or decor used for only one night! We can reduce this truly frightening statistic by avoiding non-essential purchases and making more of the quality items that we already own.
→ Organize a costume swap with your friends, neighbors, or coworkers! Most families have a couple old costumes lingering in back of their closets that were only enjoyed for a couple of hours. There’s no need to add new costumes into the waste stream or take on that expense when you potentially have several at your disposal.
→ Rent a costume! This is a great way to get more for your penny while contributing to the circular economy. Local theaters often rent out parts of their collections as a fundraiser for this very reason.
→ Create the costume you never realized you had! That’s right – there’s plenty of transformative Halloween potential in the clothes and accessories you already own. Put together a monochromatic look and add some creative makeup or statement accessories.
→ If you had your heart set on a particular costume idea, you can certainly find some budget-friendly, sustainable pieces by shopping secondhand. Contrary to popular belief, thrifting is far less scary than it’s often made out to be! For some inspiration, check out our Director of Sustainable Fashion’s collaboration with Goodwill to create this werewolf look.
