From parties to trick-or-treating and fall festivals to harvest carnivals, Halloween is a holiday that millions of Americans enjoy from year to year. The U.S. Census Bureau reported that in 2005 there were an estimated 36.1 million trick-or-treaters, from ages 5-13, and there were 108 million potential housing locations for trick-or-treaters to rack up their Halloween treats.
Both adults and children have their fair share of fun on this nostalgic, laid-back holiday. With a little creativity, Halloween can also become an educational, environmentally friendly holiday for families and individuals alike.
These are a few tips on how to make Halloween become a little greener.
Halloween Party Prep
When planning for the annual Halloween party, decide to incorporate sustainable living options into purchasing decisions. Organize and look through decorations from years past that are good to re-purpose and re-use. Also, consider swapping pieces of décor with friends and family so the decorations feel fresh and new.
For the actual party, decide to use reusable dinnerware that guests won’t mind tossing in the sink for wash and re-use later. Not only will this save money from purchasing new dinnerware year after year, it is also a greener option.
When it comes time to make the annual Halloween pumpkin and harvest décor purchases, check out these items at local farmers markets to support local distribution and consumption. Pumpkins are not just for Halloween, either, so think about re-using the non-carved pumpkins for fall decorations all the way to Thanksgiving.
Time to Trick-or-Treat
Candy is pretty much an expectation of kids and adults alike at Halloween. However, the amount of countless plastic wrappers and packaging is a nightmare of the spookiest kind. Instead of buying individually packaged candy with a ton of wrappers that will only end up causing waste in a landfill, choose candy with minimal packaging. Look for items that come in bulk or have paper instead of plastic wrappers.
Along with giving out candy, or as a substitute for candy, choose to give out packets of seeds for growing flowers and other plants. Kids will be able to literally make the Earth a little greener with seed packets as a replacement or alongside the traditional candy handouts.
Funky, fun and scary outfits are also an expectation at Halloween, especially with kids. Choose to re-use costumes from years past or use household items and cloth to make costumes for the kids. Get creative and use things around the house to come up with something ghoulish and fun.
When the kids are all dressed and ready to trick-or-treat, instead of giving them the traditional plastic containers or plastic bags, use re-usable canvas bags that have Halloween themes printed on them. Plain canvas bags can also be purchased from arts and crafts stores to allow kids to draw on the bags or make their own personalized touches to them to use for trick-or-treating.
Dump the Driving
Instead of driving all over town to transport trick-or-treaters, take the kids to a group gathering where they can get their candy and fun in one spot. Also, families can say “no” to the car altogether and choose just to walk around within their own neighborhood. This is not only a great way for families to save on a little extra driving, but it’s also a good way to get to know neighbors.
Happy Green Halloween
The important thing to remember is to enjoy Halloween for all of its celebratory possibilities. Making it a safe, fun holiday while keeping in mind some important green living decisions can ensure a bright and happy green Halloween.
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