Halloween is a fun one, especially for the kids, but it can leave behind a surprising amount of rubbish. Cheap plastic costumes, individually wrapped lollies, decorations that end up in the bin by November. The good news is it doesn’t take much to make it a lot lighter on the planet, and often a lot lighter on your wallet too. Here are a few ideas we love.
Costumes
Start at your local op shop. You’ll save money, find some great pieces, and keep perfectly good clothes in circulation instead of buying something new that gets worn once.
If you’re feeling crafty, make your own or upcycle something from the back of the wardrobe. Homemade costumes are almost always more creative, and the kids usually have a blast helping out.
When you do need to buy fabric or costume pieces, go for natural materials like cotton, wool or hemp. They break down at the end of their life, unlike synthetics.
A costume swap with friends, whānau or your school community is a great way to give old outfits a second (or third) outing and keep them out of landfill.
Skip the flimsy plastic accessories and pick up a few good-quality masks, capes or wigs that can come out year after year.
Treats
This is where we can help. Our bulk bins are full of lollies, chocolate and sweet treats you can scoop straight into your own jars or bags, with no plastic wrappers in sight. Bring a container from home and fill up on exactly what you need.
If you’re choosing chocolate, look for fair trade options that support farmers and sustainable growing practices.
Homemade treats are another lovely option. Baking a batch of cookies or bliss balls means you know exactly what’s in them, and you’ll cut down on processed, packaged food. You’ll find most of the ingredients in store.
Non-food treats like stickers, pencils or small colouring books are a nice alternative too, and they help balance out the sugar.
When handing treats out, pop them in paper bags or offer them straight from a bowl rather than using plastic bags.
Decorations
Halloween lands in spring here, so get creative with what’s around you. Pumpkins, gourds, branches and garden flowers all make great decorations and can go straight into the compost afterwards.
Old jars, cardboard and paper can be turned into lanterns, ghosts and spooky scenes with a bit of imagination.
For lighting, solar-powered fairy lights are a great choice. They’re energy efficient and can be used in the garden for the rest of the year.
Trick-or-treating
Send the kids out with a reusable bucket, pillowcase or tote bag instead of a plastic bag.
Stick to your own neighbourhood and walk or bike rather than driving around. It’s better for the planet, and it’s a nice way to meet the people who live near you.
A Halloween to feel good about
A greener Halloween doesn’t mean a less fun one. A few small choices around costumes, treats and decorations can make a real difference, and it’s a great way to show the kids (and the neighbours) that looking after the planet can be part of the fun. We’d love to see what you come up with this year, so feel free to share your creations with us.
Happy Halloween from the team at Refill Nation.