Eco-friendly Halloween ideas - For Families - The Regenerators - ��˿�� Bitesize

It's almost time to light up your lantern and don your costume for some spooky Halloween celebrations.

But what happens to your gourds and goblin masks the morning after? Our disposable supply-and-demand habits can produce a terrifying amount of waste around the spooky season, with most costumes and party favours ending up in the landfill. Have no fear, that doesn’t mean the fun has to stop!

From sustainable party ideas to zero-waste pumpkin recipes, an environmentally friendly holiday is easily achieved now more than ever. If you’re an eco-conscious spirit dying to go slime-green this Halloween, The Regenerators from ��˿�� Bitesize is here to help: here are our top tips to reduce waste and recycle this year.

Clothes of Halloween past

There’s a reason why ghosts wear old sheets! Many Halloween costumes are produced in time for the holiday, worn once and then thrown away. A 2019 study by environmental charity Hubbub and the Fairyland Trust found that the UK produced over 2000 tonnes of seasonal plastic waste (about 83 million plastic bottles’ worth) from costumes and fast fashion brands. Now, that’s scary.

Why not get thrifty this Halloween and scour charity shops for a spooktacular find? You could find a complete one that’s preloved or assemble parts of a costume from second-hand clothes. You could even arrange a costume swap if you’re looking for something specific, or ask family and friends for any spare accessories they might have.

If you have costume pieces leftover from previous fancy dress parties, consider donating them to charity or passing them on to someone else rather than throwing them away. Going old-school with paper mâché and cardboard to make your costume yourself is always a great idea – but borrowing a readymade costume is also a hassle-free option to reduce waste.

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Sometimes you just can't beat a classic!

DIY decorations: ‘Orrible origami

Opting for single-use Halloween decorations that give up the ghost after one night of scaring can also result in a lot of waste. Consider making your own decorations this year, or digging up old ones. If you have plenty of ornaments to keep, remember that some batteries and bulbs can also be recycled.

Making your own decorations is also a great way to go green on a budget, and it doesn’t have to be a huge faff. To get you started, here is a quick and easy recyclable origami idea:

Origami bats

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These adorable origami bats are perfect to stick to the walls and ceilings and only take a few minutes to make. Tip: using paper with two different colours makes the steps easier to follow, but bear in mind your bat’s face will be the same colour as the reverse. And don't forget to use recyclable paper (coated paper, for example, can't be recycled.)
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Fold a square piece of paper from corner to corner.
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Fold in half again along the bottom line.
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Unfold, flip, and create another fold from the bottom, about three quarters of the way, so it looks like a boat. Fold the exposed triangle down over the edge you just made.
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Fold on the reverse side so the little triangle is visible.
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Fold from the bottom corner to make a heart shape. Flip and repeat on the other side to make a rhombus.
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Fold your rhombus length-ways, then flip and repeat. These are your bat’s wings!
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Fold each wing down and across so your bat looks like it’s mid-flight.
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Open up the triangle at the top. Cut and fold (optional) the top triangle to make the ears. Give your bat a face and they’re ready to fly!

Don’t spare any piece of the pumpkin

Did you know a single supermarket pumpkin has hundreds of uses beyond carving? It was estimated that 24 Million pumpkins were carved in 2020, and two in five people weren’t aware you could eat a carving pumpkin.

There are plenty of inspiring ways to use all parts of your leftover pumpkin: think pumpkin seed pesto, pumpkin peel crisps, pumpkin flesh soup – even bright orange pumpkin pie ice cream! Save your pumpkin innards this year and look up some exciting ways to transform them into yummy treats. Don’t forget to compost your carved pumpkin after it’s been out in the elements for a few days, or make sure it goes in a food waste bin.

To reduce seasonal supermarket demand, consider picking a locally grown pumpkin yourself, or even start growing your own now in time for next Halloween. Not a fan of pumpkin as a treat? Create a trick jack-o-lantern out of an old painted milk carton or large jar instead, then recycle it or keep to haunt your windowsill next year.

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Ladies and gentlemen, the real star of the show

More ways to have a green Halloween

Bake treats or make sweets to give out to trick-or-treaters instead of buying individually wrapped. Cupcakes, caramel or candy apples are a great alternative example to mini chocolate bars and sweets
Make a bowl or container for trick-or-treaters instead of buying plastic, or use a strong reusable bag if trick-or-treating yourself
Look for non-toxic face paints and make sure to recycle any packaging. Most hard plastics will be recyclable, but always check the label and your local waste disposal rules
Get creative with makeup you already have instead of buying new, or simply knock up some fake blood, warts and wounds using kitchen ingredients
Bring in decorations from nature, for example drying leaves or picking twigs to make a Halloween wreath
Use reusable LED tea lights in your pumpkin instead of candles and bring them out next year to reduce waste
Become a ghost in the machine with a virtual party: arrange a spooky film marathon or horror games session with your friends… with the lights off, of course!

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