Something wicked this way comes! It’s the amount of trash and plastic that is produced from Halloween each year. According to Hubbub (a UK-based environmental charity), Halloween costumes alone generate 2,000 tons of plastic waste each year. As an Earth Charter partner, we do everything we can to reduce our environmental impact, whether it’s doing holidays differently or changing our everyday habits.
Use all your Pumpkin
I don’t think I’m alone when I say that I LOVE the tradition of carving pumpkins. Even as I may not be the most skilled artist, it’s still a tradition I love to take part in. I’ve carved a pumpkin every year for as long as I can remember. But something that we can do to make this tradition less wasteful is to be sure to use ALL of your pumpkin. Save all of the ‘guts’ that you scoop out. The pumpkin seeds can be washed and roasted. Pro tip: you can roast your pumpkin seeds in either sweet or savory seasonings. They’re good both ways! You can also use the fleshy part from the inside of your pumpkin to make a pie. Also, once Halloween is over, be sure to compost your jack-o’-lantern in some way.
Look your spookiest
There’s always that pressure every year to have the best, scariest, or funniest costume. I get it. But I can guarantee that you can find a costume that’s just as spooky at a thrift store, for a lot cheaper. You can get pieces of clothing thrifted that are much less expensive and then alter them however you need to fit your costume!
Make your own treats!
All the delicious candy that gets handed out on all hallows eve comes in horribly unsustainable plastic wrapping. You can avoid that altogether by making your own treats! I don’t know about you, but as a kid, I would’ve been just as happy to receive a warm brownie when trick-or-treating. Cookies, candy, or anything you can make at home is definitely still a great treat! Check out Delish for some ideas.
When you think of Halloween, you don’t necessarily associate it with sustainability, but I think we should start. In reducing our environmental impact, it’s crucial to think about everything we do through the lens of sustainability and reducing waste. If you have any questions about these tips or sustainability, you can send them to earthcharter@medcombenefits.com.
