(Photo by Karalina S on Unsplash)
Halloween is just around the corner! It’s time to welcome the candy, jack-o’-lanterns, and spooky faces in the late month of October.
However, one dilemma that’s often unaddressed is a Halloween scare every household should be aware of – earth polluting Halloween materials.
Since 2019, more than 1 billion pounds of pumpkins are thrown into landfills every year. Candy wrappers, averaging around 7 million tons in the U.S., are often non-recyclable and contribute to plastics that make up almost 20% of all municipal solid waste. Based on studies reported by Hubbub, 2,000 tons of plastic waste are generated from “disposable” Halloween costumes in a single year (oh my!)
Fortunately, spooky season can still be celebrated via the following sustainable steps...
Spice It Up
The Fall season should always be celebrated with a little pumpkin spice! Make the most of your carved pumpkins by finding yummy recipes that use “pumpkin guts” – yep, those gooey pumpkin insides we tend to throw away can produce some yummy soup! There are numerous delicious and nutritious pumpkin recipes online you can prepare, enjoy, and also store in our XL Silicone Food Storage Bags for future use and easy reheating. Whether it may be roasted pumpkin seeds, pumpkin pulp butter, pumpkin soup, or an autumn face mask, you and your family can enjoy jack-o’-lanterns in a whole new fashion.
Once Halloween is over, make sure to compost your pumpkins at either a local composting station, pickup service, or backyard compost to reduce emissions from them ending up in landfills. 
(Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash)
Trick-or-Treat Alternatives
COVID and candy are two tricky situations, to begin with. One way to combat non-recyclable wrappers is to buy candy in cardboard boxes, such as Junior Mint or Mike & Ike’s. Paper and foil wrapped candies: Starbursts, salt water taffy, chocolate kisses, small peanut butter cups, etc. Check the bulk section!
A healthier alternative? Give away fruit or toothbrushes! Bananas and mandarins can offer a no-packaging alternative while also offering a healthy treat to young ones. Colorful Bamboo Toothbrushes can be a fun reminder for trick-or-treaters to take care of their teeth as they collect their sweets.
(Photo by Karsten Winegeart on Unsplash)
Eco-friendly Costumes
One of the best parts of Halloween is dressing up for the night of terror. Prepare with efficiency by searching for cloth-based costumes or creating your own, at-home ensemble. If you have last year’s disposable costume, why not upcycle it? Reusing old outfits can offer creative Halloween ideas while also reducing plastic waste. Other ideas: swap costumes with friends or rent costumes!
Finish your look with our Cotton Facemasks and Cotton Tote Bag to enjoy a night of trick-or-treating.
With this in mind, you’re ready to enjoy both the environment and a S-P-O-O-K-Y Halloween.
Mother Earth Thanks You!
