Halloween is the time of years where our little ghouls and goblins roam the streets. It’s one of Canada’s favorite traditions filled with sweet treats and fun costumes. Kids love the festivities with decorations and games. Each year we hand out over 400 million dollars of packaged chocolate bars, gumballs, taffy, and lollipops. But, it’s a plastic and polyester nightmare! Yet, some of the happiest memories are made during this spooky time of year. In the midst, of all these spooktacular memories have you wondered how much goes in the trash? Since research estimates, the amount of plastic thrown away by clothing alone is 2000 tonnes a year! Find out how you can change your habits and become an Earth-friendly Halloween shopper.
Earth-friendly Halloween Costumes
Unfortunately, the textiles used in costumes are primarily polyester. The man-made material is a polluting oil-based plastic that won’t biodegrade. It’s a Franken cloth that truly will spook you and the kids! It will also, give your grandchildren’s kids a fright too. It’s not easy being eco-friendly during Halloween that’s why I want to give you these great ideas.
As parents, we want to give the kids a good time but not at the expense of our planet. Natural products were once at the core of celebrations in the past. The celebrations would only involve natural materials. For example in the very beginning animal hides were used as costumes. I don’t think anybody wants to go back to those days but there certainly is a compromise.
If your searching for a costume it’s best to find one that has already been used. Buying a brand new polyester costume only makes the problem worse. Don’t use your money to support a company that uses cheap and dirty threads. Instead of handing over our money to support a company that uses polyester, buy used. It’s important to reuse the costumes that are already out there! The thrift store, Varagesale, or Facebook marketplace has lots of options.
Earth-friendly Halloween Decorations
There are not many times of the year that you can decorate with hay bales! This is the most perfect way to set up a display in your doorway. Your pumpkins and gourds will give your entrance a beautiful framework. When you decorate with natural decorations people really take notice and you’ll get lots of compliments. I promise. Every Halloween display needs a banner and I recommend looking for burlap material. I found burlap garland one Christmas at the dollar store. But, you can find burlap bags at a farm or grocery store near you.
Happy Halloween Banner
Cut the burlap into a 4.5×4.5 inch square
You will need 14 squares
Use Mineral paint to write one letter onto each square
Cut a piece of string (jute or hemp) to size
Make sure there is a small gap between the letters and a large gap between the words
Adhere the burlap squares to the string with eco-friendly glue
You should look for eco-friendly glue because the glue we use today is made with formaldehyde. This cancer-causing chemical is a good enough reason to find an alternative. So, the alternative for your craft drawer is a product that contains soy protein, carbohydrates, and lignan. It is both strong and water-resistant.
Mineral paint is an environmentally friendly option since it does not contain lead ammonia or formaldehyde. This unique formulation is non-toxic and has no odor! It’s a wonderful eco-friendly choice for any project which needs painting.
Finally, decorations can be found for free in the Natural Environment. You don’t have to break the bank to decorate since there is beauty in your neighborhood. If you live in an area near marshland then bull reeds make a beautiful arrangement. You can also use Pampas grass flowers which accent the arrangement with texture for your home.
Candy
One of the biggest issues with Halloween today is the massive amounts of overpackaging. The waste from those tiny little chocolate bars is crazy! The wrappers cannot be recycled using the blue bins at home. They’re single-use packaging that’s slowly but surely polluting the planet. But, what could we possibly give out to other people’s children that are considered safe?
Hershey kisses have tin foil wrapping and it can be recycled. But, most people don’t know that! So, these little kisses are a good alternative. But, the candy industry must change their packaging so we can truly make a difference.
If you’re that person that would rather hand out something healthy then apples, oranges, and bananas are a good option. Get creative! Give them a face by drawing with a felt pen. Kids will appreciate a vampire banana or a Jack O Lantern orange.
Most families look forward to Halloween every year. It’s a custom that has been celebrated for the past 2000 years. Therefore this tradition will always be a part of our lives and enjoyed for future generations. As a conscious Earth-friendly Halloween shopper, we need to change our ways and vote with our dollars. The costume and candy companies don’t make it easy for us, but do you know of a company that’s raised the bar? Let me know.
For more Halloween facts check out these truly scary links
