Eco-Friendly Halloween: A Guide to a Greener Celebration

As Halloween approaches, the excitement of costumes, decorations, and treats fills the air. But did you know that Halloween can also be a time to embrace sustainability? At KIDDYKIND, we believe that celebrating with eco-friendly practices not only reduces waste but also creates wonderful memories with your little ones. In this blog, we'll explore sustainable costume ideas, eco-friendly activities, and low-waste decorations to make this Halloween both fun and kind to our planet.

Sustainable Halloween Costumes

An environment group Hubbub conducted a study and found 7 million Halloween costumes are thrown away to landfill in the UK alone. 83% of those Halloween costumes are non-recyclable, and 63% of those costumes could take up to 200 years to decompose, so why buy a new costume when you can get creative with what you already have at home? Here are some imaginative costume ideas using items you may have lying around:

1. Box Monsters: Transform cardboard boxes into fun monster costumes! Cut armholes and decorate with paints, markers, or leftover wrapping paper. Add googly eyes from old craft supplies or fabric scraps for extra flair.
2. Recycled Superheroes: Use old T-shirts, capes made from sheets, or even aluminium foil for shiny accessories. Encourage your kids to design their superhero persona using items like old hats or belts for added character.
3. Nature-Inspired Creatures: Gather leaves, twigs, and flowers from your garden or nearby park. Attach these to clothing with safety pins or string to create costumes inspired by the natural world, like fairies or woodland animals.
4. Pirates from the Past: Old shirts and pants can easily be turned into pirate attire. Ripped edges and a makeshift eye patch (perhaps from an old sock or fabric) can complete the look. Don’t forget to craft a treasure map using paper destined for recycling!

Encouraging kids to use their imagination fosters creativity while minimising waste. Plus, it makes for a unique costume that stands out!

Eco-Friendly Halloween Activities

This Halloween, consider activities that are not only entertaining but also eco-conscious. Here are some suggestions for both indoor and outdoor fun:

1. Pumpkin Carving: Instead of store-bought pumpkins, visit a local farm for organic pumpkins. After carving, roast the seeds for a delicious snack and use the flesh to make soups or pies—nothing goes to waste!
2. Nature Scavenger Hunt: Create a list of natural items to find in your backyard or a local park, such as acorns, pinecones, or colorful leaves. This activity encourages exploration and appreciation of nature.
3. DIY Halloween Crafts: Gather recyclable materials like toilet paper rolls, egg cartons, and scrap paper to create spooky crafts. Make bats from paper, spiders from egg cartons, or ghostly figures from old sheets.
4. Storytelling Session: Host a spooky story night with friends and family. Instead of purchasing new books, share tales from your collection or borrow from the library. Dim the lights and use homemade lanterns for atmosphere!

These activities foster bonding and allow children to connect with their surroundings, all while keeping waste to a minimum.

Easy-to-Make Low Waste Halloween Decorations

Decorating your home for Halloween can be sustainable and fun. Here are some easy ideas using materials you likely already have:

1. Paper Garlands: Use old newspapers, magazines, or coloured paper to cut out shapes like ghosts, pumpkins, or bats. String them together to create a festive garland.
2. Natural Centrepieces: Fill a bowl with seasonal items like gourds, pinecones, and colourful leaves. This not only looks beautiful but can also be composted after the festivities.
3. Glass Jar Lanterns: Reuse empty glass jars to create lanterns. Paint them with non-toxic paint or decorate with twine and natural elements. Place a candle or battery-operated light inside for a cosy glow.
4. Fabric Banners: Use scraps of fabric to create banners. Cut out festive shapes and sew or glue them onto a string for a reusable decoration that can last for years.

By choosing to create decorations from items you already have, you can significantly reduce waste while adding a personal touch to your Halloween decor.

Conclusion

Did you know that Halloween generates an estimated 2,000 tons or the equivalent of 83 million plastic bottles* of waste in the UK alone; and that 40% of UK consumers buy pumpkins to carve for Halloween, but 60% report that they don’t use the pumpkin to make any food such as pumpkin soup and instead just throw it into the general waste bin after they’ve finished carving*. By opting for eco-friendly homemade items instead of disposable products, you not only reduce this waste but also create lasting memories with your children. The process of crafting, creating, and enjoying activities together fosters a deeper connection and a sense of accomplishment.

So this Halloween, let’s embrace creativity, sustainability, and the joy of togetherness. Let’s make it a celebration that’s kind to both our little ghouls and the planet! Happy eco-friendly Halloween from KIDDYKIND!

*Study by environmental group Hubbub