The 31st of October is fast approaching, and as we immerse ourselves in the throes of ghoulish Halloween festivities, we must remain conscious of our impact as consumers.
PeCAN volunteer Amelia Young explores green alternatives...
First, let's look at some facts to gauge the scale of the issue and how it might be prevented. In 2019, Fairyland Trust and Hubbub conducted a survey of Halloween clothing and costumes. This found that 83% of outfits use non-recyclable, oil-based plastics which pile up in our landfills every year. This causes a massive strain on the public waste system, adds to emissions and the micro plastics problem - and adds to the millions of sweet wrappers which are discarded at this time of year.
So, what can we all do to make this Halloween a more sustainable one? In this article we outline a few eco-friendly alternatives to usual practices, which not only are better for the planet, but might save you some money too.
Look the part-y
Swap
By exchanging pre-owned outfits with family and friends you can save huge quantities of waste from ending up at landfill, whilst also preventing unnecessary expenditure on new fast-fashion outfits from supermarkets.
Upcycle
Old T-shirts with holes and stains? How about gathering some felt tip pens, paint and sewing equipment for a zombie costume. Disused sheets can be made into capes for the most frightening vampire in town. Even styrofoam and cardboard materials can be crafted into masks. This DIY costume creation not only saves you money as a consumer, but presents an excellent opportunity for a rainy day spent indoors cultivating your artistic expertise with family and friends.
Reuse
Why shop new for an outfit you might only wear once a year? Similar to the costume swap, charity shopping for Halloween outfits means that money spent and waste accumulated are both significantly reduced. In addition to this, what you do end up spending is directed towards charitable causes. It's a win-win!
Get creative with your decorations
Having identified Halloween ornaments and trimmings as a major element of waste accumulation surrounding October celebrations, the WWF proposes DIY decorations to reduce this problem.
From cardboard tombstones to old stockings turned into spider webs, there are endless possibilities for making your own spooky decs.
Pumpkins are one of the major waste elements emanating from October's festivities. To tackle this problem you could:
- Decorate rather than carve your pumpkin
- Make use of discarded entrails from the carving process by cooking Pumpkin Soup or Pumpkin Pie
- Save the pumpkin seeds to roast in the oven and then add a little seasoning of your choice
- Dry and store leftover seeds to grow your own pumpkin next year
- If you don't have the time or resources to grow your own pumpkin or cook with the leftovers, then simply putting your used waste into a compost heap to feed your veggie bed next summer might be an excellent idea for you. If you’re anything like me, you might end up with your own pumpkin plant growing out of the compost heap!
A treat for the planet
Since sweet and chocolate wrappers are a large contributor to Halloween waste, an eco alternative might be to make your own confectionery.
Ideas such as Skeleton Thumbprint Cookies, Toffee Apples and Simple Chocolate Lollipops can make for brilliant party snacks, or sweets to hand out to trick or treaters.
