As the witching hours of Halloween approaches, people are gearing up for a night of magical festivities. Yet, beneath the costumes and carved pumpkins lies an alarming truth. Halloween’s environmental impact is rising.
According to the National Retail Federation, Americans are projected to spend a record $12.2 billion on Halloween candy, decorations, and costumes this year. These are alarming statistics indeed!
Most popular Halloween costumes in 2023
Are you curious which adult costumes are the most popular in 2023? You might not be surprised that Barbie and Ken are the top choices.
You can choose to follow the latest trend this Halloween or opt for traditional costumes that are the most searched, such as skeletons, ghosts, vampires, or zombies. It’s important to remember that your costume choice can significantly contribute to a greener Halloween.
If you are wondering how to make your Halloween greener this year, do not worry; we’ve got you covered. Here are our 5 simple, sustainable tips for your Greener Halloween 2023:
Halloween Costumes – Reuse and Recycle
Did you know that this year, 94% of families plan on buying new costumes for Halloween?
Unfortunately, in most cases, the Halloween outfits are used only once, not to mention that 83% of Halloween costumes used non-recyclable oil-based plastics, meaning they were destined to end up in landfill.
We advise repurposing old costumes or participating in local swaps. This would help the environment and you to add a special touch to your outfit.
Homemade Decorations
Get crafty with DIY decorations made from recycled materials. Elevate your Halloween decor while minimizing your environmental impact.
Additionally, creating homemade decorations significantly reduces the demand for store-bought items, many of which contribute to plastic waste.
Go Pumpkin Picking
Support local farms by choosing sustainably grown pumpkins. This reduces transportation emissions and promotes local agriculture.
Remember, one billion pounds of pumpkins end up in landfills yearly, emitting harmful methane gas. Opt for locally-grown pumpkins to make Halloween more sustainable.
Make the Most of Your Pumpkins
An astounding 18,000 metric tons of pumpkins meet an unfortunate end each year, equivalent to a staggering 360 million servings of pumpkin pie.
After carving, don’t toss the insides. Freeze or pumpkin puree for later use in delicious recipes like pies, soups, and more.
This reduces waste and minimizes the amount of pumpkins contributing to harmful methane emissions in landfills.
Compost Your Pumpkins
Give back to the Earth by composting your pumpkins. This enriches soil and curbs methane emissions from landfills.
Remember, composting pumpkins is an eco-friendly way to dispose of them, preventing the release of harmful greenhouse gases.
Some of the additional tips:
Opt for Eco-Friendly Candy
Look for minimal packaging candies or choose recyclable or compostable treats to reduce plastic waste.
Choose Energy-Efficient Lighting
Illuminate your spooky decor with LED lights, which consume less energy than traditional bulbs.
Encourage Halloween Sustainable Trick-or-Treating
Consider handing out non-candy treats like stickers, small toys, or homemade goodies to reduce single-use plastic waste.
Our suggested theme for Halloween 2023 is Let’s transform more than just our appearances. Let us embrace the green change, whether you plan to be Barbie, Ken, Wednesday Adams, or any other character.
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by the authors are their own, not those of Impakter.com — In the Featured Photo: Halloween’s Pumpkin. Featured Photo Credit: Unsplash.
