How to celebrate a plastic-free Halloween
Halloween is a time for costumes, candy, and creepy fun but it’s also one of the most plastic-heavy holidays of the year that is more trick than treat for our ocean.
From synthetic outfits to single-use sweet wrappers, the spooky season can leave a haunting mark on the environment – and our seas are no exemption. Devil tridents, vampire capes, cat ears, masks, fake cobwebs, and polystyrene pumpkins may help set the spooky scene, but most are made from plastic and used only once. That means that these items often end up in landfills or polluting our waterways and ocean.
However, with a little creativity, you can enjoy all the thrills of Halloween without the plastic waste. So instead of scaring the planet, try these simple swaps to reduce your plastic footprint and keep your Halloween frightfully fun and eco-friendly:
Make Your Own Treats
Skip the plastic-wrapped sweets and whip up homemade goodies like fudge, cookies, or toffee apples. You’ll find plenty of recipes online, and with a bit of smart shopping, you can avoid plastic packaging altogether.
Packaging from crisps, sweets and lollies was the 2nd largest group of items found during our beach cleans in 2024
Many sweet wrappers end up in the ocean because they can be easily blown by a gust of wind into rivers and washed into open water
Credit: Carl Raw/unsplash
Create your own custom costumes
Sometimes the best costumes are the most simple. An old bedsheet makes for a great ghost costume.
Credit: Olga Simonova/unsplash
If you already have a costume or mask, why not reuse it or pass it on for someone else to use next year? Better yet, arrange to swap costumes with friends or family so they can use it next year instead.
Remember you can also buy and donate shop-bought costumes to a charity shop. Just remember to keep the original packaging as charity shops often need fire safety labels to resell items.
Ditch the Wet Wipes
When it does come to removing your makeup or face paint, a simple bar of soap, solid cleanser or plastic-free scrub will do – no need for wet wipes.
You can buy reusable fabric makeup removers, too. Simply wet the cloth under a tap, wipe your face and hey presto! To clean, just rinse under the tap with some soap.
Avoid using disposable tableware
Planning a Halloween party? Try to use reusable plates, cutlery, and glasses to cut down on plastic waste and packaging. Old jam jars can make quirky, ocean-friendly drink glasses and you could even get guests to decorate them with spooky designs for extra flair as a fun activity to do between bobbing for apples and carving a pumpkin.
Normal glasses can still be made seasonal with the right drink and atmosphere.
Credit: Theo Crazzolara/Unsplash
Consider using eco-friendly cleaning products
After the festivities, clean up with natural, plastic-free products. Use dish soap bars and wooden brushes for washing up, using soaps or washing up liquid made from natural ingredients will also avoid scary chemicals entering our waterways. For spills, you could swap paper towels for reusable cloths or sponge wipes.
Recycle as much as possible after your party
Check your local council’s website to see what can be recycled at home or dropped off at collection points. The more you recycle, the less ends up in landfill or gets blown into rivers and the ocean.
Share Your Ideas
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