Frightfully easy tips for a greener Halloween!

We’re love the spooky fun that Halloween brings – creepy costumes, scary snacks, and haunted happenings! But every year, 31 October comes with a scary amount of plastic, more packaging, and more waste.

Here are some eerily easy tips for reducing waste while still embracing the season’s spooktacular spirit.

Make your Halloween footprint tiny

Before heading out to buy new decorations, costumes, or party supplies, try what we like to call “pre-cycling” – checking what you already have. That costume from last year? Add a twist and it’s a whole new look. Those party supplies from a birthday? A few spooky stickers and they’re ready for Halloween.

A simple mindset shift – using what you already own before buying more – can massively reduce waste and save money too.

Nature-inspired Halloween

October in the UK is bursting with natural autumnal beauty – crunchy leaves, pinecones, conkers and twigs. Why not head out on a nature walk with your little monsters and gather bits to use as DIY decorations?

Make garlands from leaves, spooky stick creatures, or pumpkin alternatives using painted stones. It’s fun, free and fully compostable.

Go digital

If you’re planning a party, consider sending invites via WhatsApp or email instead of buying printed ones. For party games, skip printed activity sheets and opt for digital games or DIY options like apple bobbing, scavenger hunts, or "pin the wart on the witch".

Not only does this reduce paper waste, it saves money and keeps things personal too.

Sustainable face paint

Halloween often involves face paints and glitter – which can contain microplastics and skin irritants. Look for natural, biodegradable alternatives online or in health shops. Or skip face paint altogether and use fabric or paper masks that can be reused.

Even better, make it a game with your kids to design and create their own masks using recycled cardboard and safe paints. If you do use face paint, don’t forget that Pura wipes are perfect for clearing up little faces without causing any skin irritation.

The clear-up

After the last sweet has been eaten and the pumpkins have dimmed, think about how you dispose of your Halloween gear. Instead of chucking everything in the bin:

• *Save costumes and décor in a labelled Halloween box for next year
• *Compost anything biodegradable
• *Recycle responsibly, checking local council guidance
• *Donate any surplus sweets or treats to local food banks (if unopened and in-date)

Halloween should be scary – but not for the planet. With a few easy swaps, you can keep the magic alive without leaving a monstrous mess behind.

Happy Halloween!