Haunting Consumerism: A Sustainable Halloween Economy?

trovegreenprovisio
Oct 6
3 min read

Last year, we dug up how to make Halloween frightfully sustainable with eco-friendly swaps for costumes, décor, and treats. But there’s a bigger monster lurking in the shadows: the Halloween economy itself.

Americans spend over $10 billion on this one night of the year, with much of it going straight into the coffers of big-box retailers selling plastic-heavy, single-use goods. Behind the fun lies a system designed to drain our wallets and fill our landfills. This year, let’s turn the spotlight on how we can haunt consumerism itself—and create a Halloween that’s better for people, planet, and pocketbooks.

The Scary Truth About Big-Box Halloween

Plastic Profits: Chains like Walmart, Target, and Spirit Halloween thrive on costumes, candy, and décor built to break or be tossed after one night.
Family Budgets Under a Spell: Parents can spend hundreds each October on cheaply made imports. Costumes alone rake in $3 billion annually, and most are worn once before becoming trash.
Greenwashing Ghouls: Some stores now offer “eco” Halloween lines, but look closer—many are still plastic-wrapped or made with synthetic fabrics. These are tricks, not treats.

Boycotts That Bite Back

Every dollar spent is like casting a spell. When we don’t buy into wasteful Halloween consumerism, we send a message: we want greener, fairer options.

Skip the Chains: Boycotting big-box Halloween aisles (or at least buying less) reduces demand for cheap plastic goods. What do you have from last year that can be used - remember broken, timeworn, and misused items are part of the haunted vibes!
Support the Local Coven: Farmers’ markets, thrift shops, craft fairs, and small makers offer unique costumes, décor, and treats that keep money circulating in your community.
Costume Swaps: Organize a neighborhood “Monster Mash Swap” where families trade old costumes instead of buying new ones. Not only is it cheaper—it’s way more fun.

Community Over Consumption

Halloween doesn’t have to be about over-spending and over-wasting. By rejecting the big-box model, families can:

Save money while still getting creative.
Strengthen local businesses and community ties.
Reduce plastic waste that lingers for centuries, like a ghost trapped in a haunted house!

Without big-box aisles stuffed with plastic, Halloween can be a simpler—and spookier—celebration. Families and friends making costumes from whatever is at hand, baked homemade treats, and gathering together for ghost stories or scary movies. This year, let’s bring back that spirit of old-fashioned fun—it’s cheaper, greener, and a whole lot more magical.

Chills & Thrills: Movie Night Magic

Forget overpriced plastic decorations. Dim the lights, light a few candles (or safe LEDs), and cue up the classics:

Hocus Pocus for the family crowd.
The Addams Family for spooky laughs.
A vintage horror double-feature (Dracula, Psycho, Halloween) for true fright fans. Make popcorn at home, serve it in bowls or paper bags, and you’ve got instant eco-friendly entertainment.

Handmade Costumes, Homemade Charm

Long before polyester superheroes filled store racks, costumes were crafted from old sheets, hand-me-downs, and imagination. Bring it back with:

DIY ghosts, scarecrows, witches, or mummies from thrifted or repurposed clothes.
Sewing a cape, mask, or robe from fabric scraps.
Letting kids get creative with face paint instead of plastic masks.

Not only do you save money, but every costume becomes a story in itself. One of my kids scariest costumes was a plain white cardboard face mask and a completely black outfit, it was so creepy and stark that it made everyone unnerved.

Treats From the Cauldron

Skip the plastic-wrapped candy avalanche and bring back kitchen magic:

Caramel apples, popcorn balls, pumpkin bread, or spooky cookies.
Neighborhood “bake swaps” where families share homemade Halloween goodies.
For the adults: spiked cider or haunted punch with cinnamon, apple slices, and a splash of rum or bourbon.

Old-fashioned treats are tastier, healthier, and create real memories. BUT......

We know that Trick-or-treating etiquette requires that candy given out to kids is pre-wrapped with seals and closings intact. This is so parents can ensure that the candy their children are given is safe to eat. But the industry seems disinterested in helping consumers solve this issue. There have been free recycling programs for the last few years but they have all but died for unknown reasons (I suspect it is because they worked too well and were too expensive). Check out this list of Sustainable Candy Brands

Halloween doesn’t have to mean wasteful spending or plastic overload. With handmade costumes, homemade food, and a good scary movie, you can summon up a night that’s festive, frightening, and filled with real connection.

Sometimes the most sustainable Halloween is also the simplest: less plastic, more magic.