How your family can have a green Halloween this year. How your family can have a green Halloween this year.
There’s no doubt about it – decorating the house and dressing up in spooky costumes are the best ways to get the kids excited and make the most out of Halloween. But synthetic costumes, plastic decorations and mountains of wrapping all produce a lot of waste.
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As green-living is today’s hot topic, many parents are asking how celebrations such as Halloween can be sustainable – without being too much hard work! Here are 4 ways you can have a green, sustainable Halloween:
1. Pumpkins
Pumpkins are the undisputed mascot of Halloween. As a naturally grown product, they are by no means the worst offender of Halloween waste, but there are things you can do to make their usage eco-friendlier. When carving your pumpkin, don’t just throw out the insides. Pumpkin can be used to make delicious pasta sauces, stews and casseroles, or in a range of desserts such as muffins or pumpkin pie. The seeds can be cleaned, boiled and tossed in a little oil to make a tasty snack. We also recommend buying locally grown pumpkins to reduce their carbon footprint.
2. Decorations
Instead of spending money and buying plastic decorations that are difficult to recycle, why not make this year’s spooky decorations from recyclable materials that you have at home? Get creative and try making banners and streamers from coloured paper, bats from egg containers or tombs from cardboard boxes. Use organic paint to turn these household items into your kid’s scary but safe decorations.
Another great decoration is to use old sheets to make ghosts. Stuff a white sheet with a bundle of leaves from outside and tie underneath with some cotton string. Use the organic black paint to paint eyes on the head and you’ll have a perfect Halloween ghost to hang in your window or garden.
3. Costumes
Instead of wasting money and materials on new costumes that your kids will only wear once, try making this year’s costumes from things you already have at home. With a white sheet you have all the makings of a ghost, a tartan shirt can become a cowboy, a white dress makes for a brilliant zombie bride, etc. If the materials you have at home don’t quite cut it, search second-hand and charity shops for costume pieces. Sorting through racks in these shops can be a great way to find inspiration if you or your little ones can’t decide what to dress up as.
4. Trick or treating
Instead of giving sweets that are stuffed with artificial flavours, colours and are wrapped in reams of plastic, choose sweets that are made from natural ingredients and have recyclable wrappings. Even better, give small sustainable gifts instead of sweets at all. Pencils, puzzles, or books won’t require wrapping – and are much healthier!
Do you have any tips for a green Halloween?
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