Have a green Halloween
Halloween can be a scary time for nature and our environment. It is a time of overconsumption, resulting in huge amounts of plastic and food waste. But no fear, there are ways to reduce your impact this spooky season and enjoy an eco-friendly Halloween.
Costumes
Instead of purchasing new costumes each year, reuse what you already have or borrow from friends and family. Another sustainable option is to look for costumes at charity shops or secondhand shops online. Or you could get creative and think of ways to make your own costume.
Decorations
Again, reuse the decorations you already have. If you want to invest in some decorations, look for eco-friendly Halloween decor made from natural and sustainable materials, such as cotton and wood. Paper decorations are a great option and you could make your own! Keep your decorations to use next year.
Pumpkins
It doesn’t feel like Halloween without the traditional jack-o’-lantern. Yet pumpkins are a huge source of food waste at this time of year.
If you do decide to do some pumpkin carving, don’t chuck the insides in the bin. Find some pumpkin recipes such as soup or pie and cook up something tasty. When you’re done with your pumpkin masterpiece, make sure to put it in compost or in your food waste bin. Do not dump your pumpkin out in nature.
If you would like the pumpkin aesthetics without the waste
Can you feed leftover pumpkins to wildlife?
Leaving pumpkins out for wildlife to eat can do more harm than good. Pumpkins take a long time to break down and can damage the ecosystem when they rot. They will also attract rats. Pumpkins can give hedgehogs stomach upsets that can be fatal.
One way you can use your pumpkin for wildlife is to create a temporary bird feeder!
Trick or treat
If you plan to offer food to trick-or-treaters knocking at your door, consider giving something homemade rather than plastic-covered sweets. Maybe bake brownies or create toffee apples with wooden lolly sticks!
If you plan to go trick or treating with your family, perhaps consider a more wholesome activity instead. Attend a local Halloween event, play spooky games or go for an evening walk in nature to spot bats and other nocturnal wildlife (bring a torch!).
Cover photo credit: Helen Burton