3 Tips to Make Your Halloween Celebration More Sustainable

Make this year’s spooky season both fun and environmentally mindful.

Insights Blog

Oct 28, 2024

Celebrating Halloween in a sustainable way can also be a fun and creative experience. Here’s how you can spend and enjoy the spooky season while being mindful of the environment.

Opt for sustainable treats

Candy and treats are central to Halloween, particularly for children. However, the packaging can quickly pile up and contribute to plastic waste. Choosing sustainable options not only reduces your environmental impact but also supports local businesses.

Look for Recyclable or Compostable Packaging: Many candies are wrapped in non-recyclable plastic. If you’re buying treats, opt for those that come in recyclable paper packaging or eco-friendly wrappers. Some local stores now offer treats in compostable bags, which break down naturally and leave less waste behind.
Support Local Treats: The Philippines is home to many delicious local snacks, like suman, yema, or pastillas, which often come in eco-friendly packaging like banana leaves or paper.
Give Homemade Treats: You can also make your own treats at home using local ingredients. Offering homemade goodies, like rice krispie treats or mini cupcakes, gives a personal touch to your Halloween giveaways while reducing the use of plastic.

Get creative with reusable costumes

Halloween costumes can be expensive, and are only used once a year. You can consider reusing costumes or making your own.

Reinvent last year's costume: If you already have a costume from previous Halloweens, think about how you can give it a new twist. Adding a few accessories or modifying it can make it look fresh again.
Costume swaps with friends: Organize a small costume swap with friends or family. This way, you can exchange costumes without spending on new ones, and everyone gets a chance to wear something different.
DIY costumes from items at home: Look around your house for materials you can use to create a costume. Old clothes, fabric scraps, and even cardboard can be transformed into fun and creative outfits. DIY projects can be a great bonding activity for families and friends.

Not only does this reduce the demand for new materials, but it also allows for more personal and imaginative costume designs that will stand out.

Celebrating Halloween in a sustainable way can also be a fun and creative experience.

Decorate with recyclable materials

When it comes to decorating for Halloween, there’s no need to rely on mass-produced, single-use plastic items. By opting for eco-friendly decor, you can still create a spooky atmosphere while reducing waste.

Get creative with recyclables: Instead of buying new decorations, why not make your own using recyclable materials? Old newspapers, cardboard boxes, egg trays, and empty bottles can be transformed into DIY haunted houses, bats, or lanterns. You can even paint rocks or use discarded wood pieces to create gravestones for your yard.
Go for reusables: Instead of plastic, look for decorations made from durable materials like wood, fabric, or metal that can be used year after year. Woven baskets, fabric banners, and even old glass jars can be repurposed into eerie displays.
Natural elements: Incorporating nature into your decorations can add a rustic, spooky charm. Dried leaves, twigs, and flowers can be used to create garlands, wreaths, or centerpieces. Pumpkins, squash, or other locally-grown vegetables can be placed around the house or garden. After Halloween, these organic decorations can be composted, further reducing waste.

Get creative, go green, and show everyone that Halloween can be spook-tacular and sustainable. After all, the scariest thing isn’t the ghosts and ghouls—it’s the waste we leave behind. Let’s make this Halloween one to remember, for all the right reasons!

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