Did you know? More people are buying costumes for their pets. Americans spent $490 million on costumes for their pets in 2019—more than double what they spent in 2010.
Did you know? One-quarter of all the candy sold annually in the U.S. is purchased for Halloween. – History.com
Why create a nightmare for the planet and your wallet? With Halloween 2021 just around the corner, here are 10 tips and tricks for a more sustainable and eco-friendly Halloween.
Written by World Wildlife Federation
Decorations. Reuse instead of buying materials for decorations gather supplies, arts, and crafts throughout the year. Examples include:
- Turn stockings with runs into spider-webbing
- Paint foam peanuts (packing materials) and turn them into worms
- Clean Styrofoam and make Halloween masks
- Turn cardboard boxes into tombstones
- Make other creative decorations from netting from bags of oranges, cotton balls, leaves and branches from the yard, etc
- Reuse your decorations from the previous year
Costumes. Make your own!
- Keep old clothes that can be used as good pieces or parts of costumes, like worn t-shirts, black pants/shorts, etc.
- If necessary, shop at thrift shops, consignment stores, and yard sales, instead of buying retail.
- Let your kids’ imaginations run wild! Make a game of turning old clothes into costumes.
Parties. When having a party, cut down on waste by avoiding disposable cups, plates, and cutlery. Use regular dishes or buy biodegradable ones, and use a marker (or apply cute labels) to identify cups so party-goers can keep track of theirs.
Treats. Buy locally produced foods, candies, and treats. Look for goodies with minimal packaging and/or those made packaged in recycled materials.
- Check labels to see that chocolate and sugar are from sustainable sources.