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A sustainable Halloween is possible and making eco-friendly choices on this most plastic of all celebrations can be huge for the planet and for your sustainable living mindset.
But Halloween is the perfect time to turn our already helpful "green" products extra spooky while we celebrate their magical powers. You don't have to be clairvoyant to know that even small eco-friendly choices can help reduce waste, save energy, and make sure the only thing haunting our planet is the Halloween spirit!
Frightening facts about plastic consumption during Halloween
Halloween Candy Packaging: Approximately 600 million pounds of Halloween candy are sold each year in the U.S. alone, most of which comes wrapped in single-use plastic. These wrappers are difficult to recycle and often end up in landfills or as litter.
Disposable Costumes: Many Halloween costumes are made from synthetic fabrics like polyester, which is a type of plastic. In the U.S., over $3 billion is spent on Halloween costumes annually, with many being worn only once before being thrown away. Most of these fabrics take hundreds of years to decompose.
Plastic Decorations: Americans spend about $2.6 billion on Halloween decorations, much of which is made of plastic. These decorations often end up in landfills after the season is over, contributing to plastic waste.
Plastic Trick-or-Treat Bags: Traditional plastic trick-or-treat bags are a big contributor to plastic waste. Millions of these bags are used and discarded every year, ending up in landfills or the environment.
WITCHES BREW
DIY Kitchen and Bathroom Spray
8oz Distilled White Vinegar
6oz Distilled Water (or boiled and cooled)
2oz Rubbing Alcohol
10 drops lavender/rosemary/ or lemon essential oil (or germ fighter blend for extra power)
Combine all ingredients in a 16 oz spray bottle and shake well before each use. Ise this solution on kitchen counters (not granite), cabinets, refrigerator shelves, glass, blinds, tile, sinks, tubs, and fan blades.
Germ Killers
Peppermint Essential Oil
Rosemary Essential Oil
Honey
Cinnamon
Apple Cider Vinegar
Spooktacular Swaps: Top 5 Eco-Friendly Halloween Decor Tips!
1. Swap Plastic Pumpkins for Real or Reusable Ones
Use Real Pumpkins: Carve locally sourced pumpkins or gourds, and compost them after the season. They’re biodegradable and add a natural touch.
Opt for Reusable Pumpkins: If you want something long-lasting, choose fabric or wooden pumpkins that you can use year after year instead of plastic ones.
2. DIY Decorations with Natural or Upcycled Materials
Natural Elements: Use items like fallen leaves, twigs, and pinecones to create spooky centerpieces, wreaths, or garlands. These are completely biodegradable.
Upcycled Materials: Repurpose old cardboard, jars, and paper into DIY ghosts, bats, or lanterns. It’s creative, fun, and keeps waste out of landfills.
3. Switch to Energy-Efficient Lighting
Solar-Powered Lights: Instead of plastic light-up decorations, go for solar-powered or LED fairy lights. They save energy and last much longer.
LED Candles: Replace disposable glow sticks and plastic decorations with reusable LED candles or solar-powered lanterns for an eerie glow.
4. Recycled or Thrifted Decorations
Thrift Store Finds: Visit local thrift shops for unique, pre-loved decorations. Vintage Halloween items often have more charm and don’t contribute to new plastic production.
Recycled Paper Décor: Choose or make decorations from recycled paper, like paper bats, pumpkins, and banners, which can be composted or reused.
5. Reusable Trick-or-Treat Baskets
Cloth Bags: Ditch plastic trick-or-treat buckets and use reusable cloth bags or pillowcases that can be personalized and reused each year.
Upcycled Containers: Decorate old baskets, jars, or even cardboard boxes as trick-or-treat containers, giving them a spooky makeover.
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