Make eco conscious (but still creepy) choices this Halloween. 

Holidays always seem to involve a lot of waste; whether it’s general, plastic or food. Halloween is no exception, with masses of single-use items going to waste as soon as ‘spooky season’ is over. Pumpkins rot on doorsteps and windowsills, rubber masks perish at the back of the wardrobe and packets of sweets are thrown out as soon as we’re sick of them. 

They key to taking an eco-friendly approach this Halloween is to invest in decorations which can be reused every year.

Top tip: if you dry out the seeds found inside a pumpkin & plant them, you’ll have your own home-grown pumpkins by next autumn. 

 1.   Carving Pumpkins

Brits are predicted to create a staggering 18,000 tonnes of food waste this Halloween from discarded pumpkins alone! Why not opt for a spooky touch to your home with this Mache Pumpkin with Face from Hobbycraft and choose from the trendiest crafting techniques to bring it to life!

2.    Make your own goody bags

Use fabric pens to decorate a plain tote bag or pillow case to use as a loot bag instead of a plastic bucket or bag! That way, you can customise them to fit your costume or go for a more generic autumnal look so that it’s reusable.

3.    If you carve a Pumpkin, don’t waste a thing!

Don’t dump the pumpkin once you’re done with it – it can all be used. Roast the seeds in smoky spices or sweet cinnamon for a tasty snack, and make anything from face masks and hair masks to stews and soups with the flesh.

4.   Second-hand costume

If you’re going to buy a costume, check out the charity shops first (and donate it back afterwards). They end up with loads of intentional costumes, and the vintage bits and pieces might inspire you to get more into your zombie’s character.

Alternatively dress up using clothes you already have by going as someone #relatable, or make your own – no need to buy a skeleton costume when you’ve got black clothes, some white paper, a pair of scissors and a stapler!

Oh, and definitely don’t don a plastic mask that’s only going to make your face sweat anyway. Print something out and stick it onto cardboard, or watch some YouTube videos and try your hand at your own makeup (cruelty-free of course, with biodegradable glitter).

5.    Use nature to your advantage

Halloween has very handily plonked itself in the middle of Autumn, so there’s plenty to be picked up without having to forage too far. Use pinecones, dry leaves! If you want to supplement your scattered leaves, don’t use synthetics. Be Eco Conscious! Use paper to make a less festive version of paper chains, cut out spider webs and use templates to adorn the porch with paper ghosts and ghouls galore.

6. Vegan Sweets  

Be (eco) conscious about what sweets (US translation: candy) you’re handing out. Go dairy-free and gelatine-free for the sake of the animals and the planet (and to make your treats as inclusive as possible). Minimising plastic is tricky here, but there are a few options. Go halfway and buy bags of sweets that are at least individually wrapped in paper (like Starburst) or foil (like chocolate coins) or splash out on individually wrapped bars of chocolate like those in Aldi. Our research found Elizabeth Shaw’s range to be the best value with the least waste! Handing out aluminium cans of drink or fruit with decorated skins can be fun (if a little rogue)…

7.   Canned Drinks

For the bigger kids (aka grown ups because we’re all kids at heart). Stick to canned drinks and make sure you take your reusable straw with you if you go out-out!

8.   Make your own decorations!

A brilliant way to make sure your decorations are sustainable is to make them yourself from things you have at home. This can also double up as a fun Halloween activity for the kids. Make a garland of your own by cutting spooky shapes out of card and threading string through, make cobwebs out of string, or go super old school use an old white sheet to make a ghost in your garden.