How to Have a Green Halloween: 5 Eco Friendly Tips

Discover 5 easy ideas to reduce waste, reuse what you have and make Halloween fun AND sustainable.

Real talk, Halloween can be just another day without any celebration or effort needed and that's probably the greenest option of all. But more and more if us are marking the day and the celebrations seem to get bigger and bigger each year. 

Is Halloween waste an issue?

The supermarket aisles are packed with plastic based costumes, props and decorations and each year the offering seems to grow.  A survey by Fairyland Trust in 2021 found that 83% of Halloween costumes are made using plastic, contributing to 2,000 tonnes of plastic from costumes each year in the UK. According to the sustainability charity Hubbub, 7 million costumes end up in the bin every year. This doesn't even take into account plastic decorations, single use tableware and novelty decor. So, Halloween waste really is an issue.

It feels like parents are under more pressure to deliver something magical for their little ones but can we do that without buying products that contribute to waste and harm the planet?

How can we reduce the environmental impact of Halloween?

1. You don't need to do everything!

Choosing to do less isn't being a 'party pooper'. Tradition is so often used as an excuse for overconsumption and the marketing machine persuades us that buying things equals more fun. Remember, that many of our traditions have been created or inflated by big companies to get us to spend more money! be a rebel and resist them!

2. Eat your pumpkin.

Most Halloween pumpkins are grown for aesthetics not for taste so unsurprisingly 15.8 million of them end up in the bin which is the equivalent of 95 million meals going to waste. Many people put pumpkins outside for wildlife but eventually they still end up in the bin or compost. If you don't like pumpkin or find that they don't have much flesh then squashes are the perfect alternative. They're grown for taste and they come in lots of cool and spooky shapes and sizes. You can carve them just like a pumpkin and they taste so much nicer!

3. Costumes

Buying: Supermarkets and fast fashion brands have lots of ready made costumes at a low price and as a busy parent it's a tempting option. If you size up or choose something with a smock or cape style then at least it will last for a few years.

If you're organised then Vinted is flooded with kids fancy dress costumes. Facebook market place is great for last minute and swapping with friends is a good idea too. 

Making: Use what you have to DIY a simple costume. Any fancy dress outfit can be made 'spooky' with red lipstick as fake blood, face paint or vampire teeth! Add our spooky nail stickers and scary tattoos to a black, purple or orange outfit and you've got yourself a fun and spooky Halloween look!

4. Trick or Treating

Use any bag, bucket or container. It doesn't have to be a Halloween theme but kids can add stickers, and home made spooky creatures or props to jazz up a plain bag. 

Lots of supermarket sweets are plastic wrapped but there are other options. Give out little boxes of raisins or opt for paper or foil wrapped biscuits and sweets. Quality Street, chocolate coins, Tunnocks biscuits, and many chewy sweets are wrapped in paper or foil that can be recycled. You can't control whether people recycle them but at least it's less plastic going out into the world. 

5. Decorations 

Buying: Charity shops often have Halloween decor in September and October, check selling marketplaces for second hand options or choose reusable decorations like our Lanka Kade Halloween Figures that you can also use for play and bring out every year. 

Making: Get crafty with newspaper or plain paper and make spiders webs (a variation on Christmas snowflakes). Make drawings or paper chains with stickers our create some decorations with our spooky craft kits. There are lots of ideas on Pinterest if you have the energy for it. If not just go with a simple pumpkin or squash. It's enough.

At Smallkind we believe that every gift and celebration can be a responsible choice without compromising on fun. Going green this Halloween might be buying something from a sustainable brand instead of the high street, choosing recyclable or reusable products or buying nothing at all. With a few simple changes it is possible to have a fun family Halloween without extra waste or stress!

Let us know if these ideas help!