Halloween Tips for a Planet-Friendly Holiday!
Halloween Tips
For a planet-friendly holiday!
Everyone celebrates Halloween a bit differently, but for those who embrace all things Halloween, we wanted to offer up a few tips to help you keep it planet friendly!
1. Pumpkins - a beloved Halloween essential! But according to Statistics Canada, about about 80,000 metric tonnes are produced each year, most of which aren't ever eaten. This means they end up in the landfill, producing leachate and methane gas. So instead of tossing that pumpkin in the trash, either chop it up and add it to your compost, leave it out for yard waste pick up, or find out if there are any farms/rescues that may want them. 🐷
2. Costumes - for many, dressing up is the best part about Halloween. And there's an earth friendly way to do it! Most costumes are made from polyester, which we all know is bad for the earth and marine life. So get creative and use what you already have in your house to make something spooktacular! Thrifting costumes and donating them when you're done is another great way to reduce waste. 👻
3. Decorations - there are many fun things to be found at your local dollar/big box store, but most are made from plastic and shipped from across the world. These leave a pretty big footprint on our earth. Instead, try making your own, without the use of plastic. It's fun to do with kids, of course, but also great for adults. When was the last time you tapped into your creative side? There are lots of ideas online! 🎃
4. Treats - for many (especially our littles & not-so-littles)... this is what it's all about. So much candy bought at Halloween is not just harmful because it's wrapped in plastic, it's also harmful to the people making it due to working conditions, as well as to the earth because of farming practices. So be on the lookout for organic and fair trade goodies, and try to find items packaged in cardboard/foil. Or... avoid sugar altogether and offer something unique, such as pencils, erasers, coins, drinks in recyclable aluminum cans, seed paper/bombs, or bracelets. 🍫
So that's the short list. Hope you have a wonderful Halloween!