4 Easy Eco Friendly Halloween Tips

Halloween is all about conspicuous consumption, and unlike Christmas, it does nothing to hide this fact. On October 31st, children and child-like adults dress up in costumes and wander the streets begging for candy.

Remember those old vinyl costumes with the one-size-fits-all mask that held to your face by a thin piece of unprotected elastic? First of all, vinyl is a problematic material and probably shouldn't be worn as clothing. Secondly, have you ever seen anyone reuse one of those costumes? By the end of Halloween night, those flimsy suits were most likely in tatters. Those costumes might actually be the least sustainable product on the planet.

Here are some other tips to help you have a happy, environment-friendly Halloween:

1. Make your own costume or buy a costume that is reusable. Married couples can usually find a second use for their old Halloween costumes, but kids are going to feel ridiculous having to rotate a fairy or ninja costume into their everyday clothing line up. Design a costume out of household materials or buy a costume that can be inconspicuously converted into a day-to-day outfit.


2. Give out eco-friendly candy. The problem with Halloween is that all the candy must be wrapped in eco-unfriendly packaging. Due to safety concerns, kids are taught not to accept unwrapped candy. Hand out candy that is wrapped in paper. Many brands of taffy are wrapped in paper. There are also paper pouches full of gummy fruit snacks.


3. Give the kids a reusable bag for candy. A pillowcase works. They can also use a reusable grocery bag.


4. Grow your own pumpkins. This will reduce pumpkin-shipping emissions. You can grow the pumpkins on your roof to cut down on urban heat islands. Compost your old pumpkins when you are done.

Read more about making your Halloween Green:
How to Go Green: Halloween
Buy Green: Halloween Candy
How to Throw a Spooky Eco-Fab Halloween Party
How to Put Your Face On A Jack-O-Lantern
Decorate with Nature, and More Eco Friendly Halloween Tips
Do it Yourself Halloween Cobweb From Cotton Balls
Make Your Own Broadway-Inspired Wicked Halloween Costume
Make Your Own Cheaper, Better Halloween...Mask
Make Your Own Cheaper, Better Halloween...Witch Costume
Make Your Own Cheaper, Better Halloween Costume
Make a Halloween Costume You Can't Find at Wal-mart
DIY Halloween Crafts from Maura Madden's Crafternoon

Also be sure to check out more hair-raising Halloween how-to's on How Stuff Works.

Need proof that it's possible to balance being green and still be a supportive partner and parent? See how Ed Begley, Jr. does it on Planet Green TV's Living with Ed.

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