You could also give out small gifts instead of candy. Things like Halloween-themed pencils, erasers, mini coloring books, or bookmarks are relatively low waste even once they reach their end of life. Do you know what the scariest part of Halloween is? It’s not the talk of ghosts and ghouls in the air, but the sheer amount of waste we collectively produce. White holiday lights can be a perfect way to add a bit of eerie light to an otherwise very dark display. Pull out little white holiday lights and integrate them into your dark and spooky Halloween look for the perfect finish. Then leave them out through the end of the year! For a nearly zero waste Halloween costume, think about things that can be reused, reworn, or recycled. Characters Inspired By Your Closet

An estimated 2,000 tonnes of plastic waste– equivalent to 83m bottles – is generated from throwaway Halloween clothing sold by leading retailers in the UK each year.

More ways to have a green Halloween

As long as you don’t add anything that will contaminate the paper or cardboard, you can recycle it all once you’re done. Swap or Crowdsource Carefully wrap the soaked corn husks around the straw wreath base, securing them in place with a hot glue gun. (Alternatively, can use string instead, if you want to.) The straw wreath base offers a sturdy structure for the husks to adhere to, creating a wreath that can be displayed for seasons to come. Secure the twigs in place using jute twine or natural twine, wrapping it around and tying knots to ensure a stable wreath structure. These fabric scrap ghosts not only make adorable decorations but also exemplify the creative reuse of materials in a sustainable Halloween setup! Pumpkins and gourds aren’t the only options for naturally festive decor. If you live near a farm or farming supply store, look for straw bales or dried corn stalks to give your house an autumnal vibe.

If you are hosting a Halloween party then you are spoiled for choice when it comes to eco-friendly food. BBC Good Food has tons of vegan Halloween recipes. From vegan nachos to pumpkin hummus, squash stews, and vegan toffee apples there’s a host of ghoulish treats to choose from. Using cardboard boxes, used kitchen rolls, and plastic bottles to create spooky animals such as bats and spiders. When Halloween is over you can simply recycle these materials as normal. If you want to make your own costume, then the only limit is your imagination. Try my guide to homemade Halloween costumes for kids for some clever ideas. Zero-waste Halloween decorations and upcycled Halloween decorations made from materials you already have at home can significantly reduce waste and contribute to a more sustainable holiday. How do you decorate for Halloween sustainably?Hire a costume – if you really want to petrify people or have a specific character in mind, hire rather than buy a Halloween costume. This saves you money and means it’ll be reused rather than binned or sit in a cupboard for years. After collecting the leaves, press them to flatten and dry them. (This step is important for ensuring the leaves maintain their shape and color during the crafting process.) They offer a magical and whimsical feel to the white pumpkins above, but they can also great a spooky element (especially when they are on at night) and part of displays like this twig garland or this DIY haunted pumpkin patch. Rather than joining in with the fast fashion trend and buying a brand-new costume, consider these zero waste Halloween ideas for you or your children’s costumes:

Did you know a single supermarket pumpkin has hundreds of uses beyond carving? It was estimated that 24 Million pumpkins were carved in 2020, and two in five people weren’t aware you could eat a carving pumpkin. Looking for more eco-friendly Halloween decorations? Use old items like clothing, sheets, or cardboard to create DIY decorations using the ideas outline above. At its worst, Halloween can produce a lot of waste: single-use candy wrappers, cheap costumes, and shoddy decorations that end up in landfills or as litter just days after they’ve left the store. If you can’t find what you want secondhand, then renting a costume is another sustainable option. Search online for Halloween costume rental options near you.If you don’t have the time or desire to make your own costume, consider hosting a costume swap or asking friends to lend you something that will easily create a look. Carefully cut the newspapers or magazines into strips. The length of the strips can vary depending on how big you want your pumpkin lanterns to be. The width should usually be between 2 and 3 inches. It’s Bone-Appetit (see what I did there?!) with these eco-friendly and sustainable Halloween treat ideas: For Halloween Parties Start by repurposing clear glass jars or containers. Utilizing glass containers ensures visibility and allows for a creative display of miniature haunted scenes. These quintessential plastic free Halloween decorations mesh perfectly with a zero-waste lifestyle. Once pumpkins and squashes are done adorning your porch or doorstep, cook them into a tasty dish or compost them if they’ve gone bad. Gourds are generally grown for decorative purposes only, so those you can just compost when the time comes.