How to Throw a Killer Halloween Party Without Spooking the Environment

I love Halloween, and there is no better way to celebrate than a spook-tacular soirée that would make even the Addams Family proud. But like most holidays, it also means a lot of waste from the throw away candy wrappers to the cheap costumes you will never wear again. I’ve got you covered with all the tricks and tips for hosting an eco-friendly Halloween party.

Party Decorations

Let’s be honest, decorating for Halloween is one of the most fun parts of celebrating. Have decorations from last year? Bring them out and do an inventory check before you go on a spending spree at Target. The most sustainable thing you can do is stop buying stuff you don’t need and use what you already have. The WWF has some great tips for upcycling old items into new spooky décor.

Go thrifting! Mismatched antique finds will fit right in with the Halloween vibe. Goodwill just launched an online site, making shopping secondhand easier than ever. Total Halloween spending is expected to reach $10.6 billion this year. Double bonus: shopping secondhand means your party will have the most unique decorations and you’ll save money!

If you are buying new, don’t be afraid to splurge on a high quality item that will last you. Go for something local or sustainably made. If you’re shopping online, opt for no rush shipping to lower fuel emissions.

Halloween Treats

Buy local as much as possible. Check out farms and farmer’s markets for pumpkins. Try to use as much of them as you can. Use the seed after carving, compost the pumpkin when you’re done, etc. Think about how many pumpkins are thrown out after Halloween. By using all (or as much) of the pumpkin as you can, you reduce the overall waste.

Buy candy with minimal or recyclable packaging. Consider buying chocolate from one of these brands as opposed to the large brands, where issues like deforestation and child labor are an issue.

Another alternative is to make your own treats. There are so many ideas on Pinterest for Halloween treats. For these goodies, use biodegradable/reusable plates and utensils or go with finger food that doesn’t need any utensils at all.

Tips

Encourage your guests to walk or carpool to the party. This not only helps save emissions, but with so many people out and about on Halloween, is also safer.

The next day, help pick up trash. Bring some gloves, hand sanitizer and a trash bag around with you. I am always astounded by the amount of litter people leave behind on Halloween. Be a good Samaritan and help make sure that plastic doesn’t go any further.

If you’re looking to complete the vibe by dressing up, check out this article on dressing up sustainably.