The anticipation of Halloween includes trick-or-treating, black and orange decorations, and lots and lots of candy. But Halloween celebrations can sometimes be bad for the environment—let’s change that!

October 31st is only a few days away and if you’re a sustainability enthusiast who loves all things spooky, these fun activities are just for you!

Carving Pumpkins

Put the green into carving your pumpkins.

• Buy your pumpkin locally.
• Save the insides and repurpose them in different recipes.
• Stay away from using bleach to make your pumpkin last longer. After the season is over and you’re ready to get rid of it, critters will use it for food. A natural way to extend the life of your creation is to use vinegar. (1 part vinegar to 10 parts water)

Costume Contest

How do you make your costume eco-friendly?

• Reuse common household items that would otherwise go to waste. This is where you get creative – use cardboard boxes to become a robot or turn toilet paper rolls into a pirate’s telescope.
• Take advantage of what’s in your closet. You probably already have a costume in there!
• Last year’s costume can get an upgrade with some added fake blood and zero new garment purchases.

Homemade Candy

Make your own! This will cut down on all that wrapper waste and let’s be honest, the last 18 months has made us all bakers. Here are some ideas:

• Caramel apples. Everyone can decorate exactly how their sweet tooth desires.
• Sugared pecans.
• Anything chocolate-dipped. Pretzels, strawberries, marshmallows, etc.

Halloween Movie Night

Putting on a marathon of the family’s favorites is a sure way to get in the Halloween spirit. The eco-friendly spin on this one is pretty simple:

• Keep the lights off!

Enjoy your Halloween!