40. Tuesday Tip: Sustainable Halloween

Welcome to Green Stuff! I’m Natalie with Scoop Marketplace and Scoop Intelligence. For this week’s Tuesday Tip, I want to talk about getting ready for my favorite holiday, Halloween. Halloween is such a fun, interactive holiday, but it can majorly increase your carbon footprint. But don’t worry, there are many creative and innovative ways to get spooky sustainably.

Those quick, cheap costumes that you find in most big box stores are made of mostly plastic. Check out your local thrift store for some great items to repurpose. It’s a great opportunity to help your kid with a creative project as well since they will be designing, planning, and executing the costume. Another low-waste, low-cost idea is to host a costume exchange. If your area has an active Buy Nothing group, it’s a great place to gather neighborhoods to de-clutter and share items. In my family, we often end up making the costumes. Several years ago my daughter was Luke and my husband and I went as a Wampa and Tauntaun. The best part was reusing those costumes again when it snowed on Christmas morning. So neighbors got to see a full Hoth holiday. 

For the home, opt for real decor to get that cozy, fall feel without the plastic. Decorate with pumpkins, gourds, or interesting leaves you find on a nature walk. And if you can get items from a local market or farm, then bonus! You are also supporting your local farmers. You can also roast the seeds or save some to plant next year. 

For your spooky lighting, try beeswax or soy-based candles instead of paraffin. Local thrift stores are a boon for fall home decor as well. You can find wicker baskets, candelabras, old apothecary bottles, mirrors, and if you’re lucky, a totally not-haunted porcelain doll. Again, it’s a great time to get your kids, nieces, nephews, or grandkids involved with some fun crafts. Check out the link in the show notes for some easy DIY decorations. 

While making homemade treats would up the sustainability level, it is definitely frowned on, especially in Covid times. You can still sneak in some earth-friendly alternatives. Look for organic and fairtrade certifications and if there are candy makers local to you, it’s a great time to support those businesses as well. And if you are having a Halloween party, encourage friends to bring containers to bring food with them instead of using throwaway plastic. 

I hope you have fun this Halloween and let us know on Instagram about your favorite Halloween sustainable swaps. 

https://www.woohome.com/diy-2/42-last-minute-cheap-diy-halloween-decorations-you-can-easily-make