Lifestyle

No Tricks, All Treats: 9 Simple Ways to Celebrate Halloween Sustainably

Some of the ways we celebrate Halloween can be pretty spooky! From candy wrapped in plastic to wasteful Halloween home decor, there is definitely some room for improvement.

I put together some ways we can reduce our carbon footprint while still enjoying Halloween and no you don’t have to skip your favorite tradtions! 

Best Tips For Your Sustainable Halloween Festivities

white pumpkins as eco friendly halloween decor

1. Thrift your Halloween costume 

Buying a new Halloween costume every year can be pretty wasteful. So many resources (water, electricity, gas for transportation etc.) go into making new costumes every year. 

Instead, try checking out your local thrift store for this year’s costume! Sometimes they have costumes from larger stores that did not sell or you can piece your costume together from various items you find!

Here are a few costume ideas to get you started: 

  • The classic ghost: using a white sheet 
  • Scarecrow: jeans + flannel + boots + hat 
  • Pumpkin: orange shirt. Draw a face with a black marker.
  • Witch: black outfit, hat, paint broomstick black 

2. Give out earth-friendly goodies for trick or treating 

Times are changing and there are so many cool brands offering goodies in more sustainable packaging. Sustainably made candies that come in recycled packaging can be on the pricier side. A budget-friendly option is buying candy that comes in paper packaging. Think movie theatre candy that comes in paper boxes. 

Vegan candy is another great option!  Some vegan candies include Nerds, Swedish Fish, Skittles, Twizzlers etc.

You could also pass out small gifts instead of candy. Just make sure they are not made of plastic or find some that are second-hand. Some ideas are pencils, erasers, wooden toys, second-hand toy cars etc. 

3. Use a reusable bag for trick or treating 

A thrifted collection of neutral straw bags and hats are hung on a rack
Any bag will do! These are all second hand

If your kids are going trick or treating, use a reusable bag or repurpose one you already have. Even a brown paper bag from the grocery store can be decorated in a cute way. There’s no need to waste a plastic bag for one night when you can use one that has already been produced. 

4. Try making a vegan Halloween dessert 

An orange juice and hibiscus flower sit on a ledge
I’m all for the sugary treats but I also love this Halloween themed fresh juice to get into the spirit!

Pinterest is loaded with vegan treats! With a little orange or purple food coloring you can make a festive Halloween treat to celebrate. This year I am going to make mini pumpkins using vegan rice krispy treats and some orange food coloring!

If you are looking for a healthier Halloween treat to try, check out my Healthy Halloween Juice here. 

5. Halloween nail art but make it eco-friendly! 

Some nail polishes have toxic ingredients that can be harmful to your body and the earth. Check out Itemerie for cruelty-free nail polish. Pinterest has tons of Halloween nail art ideas too!

6. Use sustainable makeup for Halloween costumes (elate and package free glitter) 

Make-up can have so many toxins that can harm your skin and the environment. If your Halloween costume includes the need for makeup, check out Elate Cosmetics.

If you need plastic-free glitter it can be found here.

7. Skip the disposables for Halloween parties 

If you are throwing a Halloween party go for reusable cutlery, plates and cloth napkins. Yes, it can be a lot to wash but you won’t have to buy a bunch of single-use plastic. If you want your items to be Halloween themed stop by the thrift store to see if they have fall-themed items that you can save for years to come. 

8. Decorate with natural elements instead of plastic 

mini pumpkins as sustainable halloween decoration

Pumpkins. Leaf wreaths. Gourds. Twigs and branches. Maybe throw in some thrifted twinkle lights and you’ve got a cozy fall-themed decor. An ethically made Fall-themed candle doesn’t hurt either! 

9. Carpool to haunted houses, pumpkin patches & corn mazes 

I will not be joining your carpool ha (I can’t stand scary stuff) but if it’s your thing, pile into one car instead of riding separately. Reducing the number of cars on the road is an easy way to reduce your carbon footprint. 

What other ways can we sustainably celebrate Halloween? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below! Coming up with new ways to celebrate classic holidays can be so refreshing. 

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Stay well, 

Maggie

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