Halloween is the time for fun, fancy dress, and horror films. But the real villain of Halloween is always the same… single use plastics!
One of the year’s most wasteful holidays, a study by environmental charity Hubbub alongside The Fairyland Trust found that fancy dress costumes alone produce 2,000 tonnes of plastic waste. That’s the equivalent of 83 million plastic bottles!
But fear not, we’ve put together some tricks to help you treat the planet right this spooky season.
It is estimated that seven million Halloween costumes are thrown away each year, the majority of which end up in landfill sites across the UK.
Dress to kill this year without spooking the planet by resurrecting that old zombie outfit from the dead and swapping it with a friend. Alternatively, visit your local charity shop and see what’s on offer. You can freshen up your finds with our Lavender Laundry Liquid.
Sweet wrappers are almost always plastic and of the millions bought each year many go uneaten, whilst the wrappers are impossible or very difficult to recycle. Why not impress your guests with some seasonable homemade treats like candied apples, or chocolate ‘neck-tarine’ slices?
This article provided us with some fang-tastic inspo!
A terrifying 14.5 million pumpkins are expected to be left uneaten each Halloween, and even more horrifying is that 47% of people still don’t know that carving pumpkins from the supermarket are not only edible, but also delicious! Pumpkins are a delicious and versatile ingredient; they can be made into soups, pies, cakes and even risottos.
Think of the week-old-decomposing-pumpkin on your doorstep as a metaphor for what is happening to the planet if we don’t act. Pumpkins actually release methane when they start to decompose, which has more than 20 times the warming effect of carbon dioxide.
Try out these four ‘eerie-sistable’ recipes:
1) Pumpkin Pie– It’s a classic often overlooked in the UK but done right this American treat will satisfy your sweet tooth (or fang!)
2) Take your chips and dips beyond the grave with this pumpkin hummus, served out of… you guessed it! A pumpkin.
3) Spiced pumpkin soup, because what’s better than knowing you’ve got a week’s worth of warming lunches prepared?
4) With this pumpkin spice syrup, you can not only save yourself money but also reduce plastic by skipping the Starbucks and making your own at home!
The theme for a sustainable Halloween is all about being tasteful and not wasteful so use what nature has to offer and make your own Halloween wreaths from twigs and leaves.
Halloween isn’t just a day, it’s a season. With that in mind, you should start prepping early – throughout the year, save up your cardboard packaging and get the kids to turn the boxes into tombstones. Let your little ghosts and ghouls’ imaginations run wild by turning laddered tights into spider webs.
If you’re having a party, avoid disposable cups, plates, and cutlery – use regular dishes, or buy biodegradable ones instead!
We use five trillion plastic bags worldwide each year, and single-use trick or treat bags only add to the problem. If you’re going trick or treating in your area ditch the plastic bag and opt for something reusable like a tote bag, bucket, painted pillowcases or even a backpack.
