With more people than ever planning to participate in Halloween, it is increasingly important to celebrate the occasion in a more environmentally aware fashion.
Costumes
Second hand costumes can be found at thrift stores. You can also trade in last year’s ensemble for another second hand costume. This year the national non-profit initiative “Green Halloween” held the first annual National Costume Swap Day, taking place October 9th. Lynn Colwell, co-writer of Celebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions for the Whole Family says they hope the event will encourage “people to swap instead of sending costumes to the landfills.”
Decorations
Green Halloween decorations can be made from reusable items that can be brought back out year after year. Perhaps the best approach involves using natural, biodegradable items like pumpkins, gourds and leaves. Make sure you compost your pumpkin and do not throw it into the trash. Use LED orange lights to decorate the outside of your home, they cost 80 percent less than incandescent lights and they use much less energy or use real candles in your jack o’ lanterns.
Candy
Give your children pillowcases instead of plastic loot bags. Make your own treats like candy apples and use packaging that is not made of plastic.
Simple efforts like the ones outlined above go a long way when repeated often enough. It is also a great way to communicate the practical applications of environmental sustainability to your children.
