We often associate Halloween with fun and creativity, but beneath the surface lies a haunting environmental cost.
From huge amounts of food waste to plastic pollution, the darker side of Halloween is becoming harder for us to ignore. Here are some sustainability tips for you and your family to make this Halloween less scary to the planet and your wallet.
In the UK over 14.5 million pumpkins are bought for Halloween, yet more than half won’t be eaten. That’s almost 8 million pumpkins going straight into the bin, often after just a few days on display. But food waste doesn’t just rot harmlessly; it releases methane, a gas 25 times more harmful than carbon dioxide, meaning every uneaten pumpkin contributes to climate change.
Carving your pumpkin? Try these tips to minimise food waste
- Use the flesh for some tasty recipes – from soup, to curries, to cakes
- Roast the seeds to snack on or to put in your granola
- Compost it – if you have a compost bin, your pumpkin can go straight in
- Dry and save the seeds to plant and grow your own pumpkin for next year
- Give the seeds to birds by scattering them or adding them to a feeder – these can be raw or roasted, as long as they are plain
- Feed the wildlife – cut your pumpkin into chunks and leave in your garden for birds, squirrels and hedgehogs (just make sure there is no glitter, wax or paint)
Rethink your costume
Did you know that 7 million Halloween costumes are binned each year? As 83% of them are made of synthetic materials, they can’t be recycled and end up in landfill.
- Before buying something new, check what you have in your wardrobe. Your old black dress could become a witch’s outfit, and your striped shirt could be the missing part of your pirate look! Not only does this save you money, but it reduces what goes to landfill.
- Get crafty with materials you have at home. With some painting, your cardboard cereal boxes could become a robot suit!
- Ask your friends or colleagues if they have a costume they’d like to swap with you – an easy way to refresh your Halloween look this year.
We hope you have fun turning some of these tips into action over Halloween!
