∼6 MIN READ

Halloween can be magical for children — dressing up, carving pumpkins, and wandering through lantern-lit streets.

But for eco-conscious families, there’s always one big question:

How can we enjoy a fun, spooky Halloween and respect the planet and wildlife?

From plastic costumes to wasted pumpkins, this holiday can generate surprising amounts of waste.

Here’s how to make this year’s celebration greener — and just as exciting for your little ones.

1. Choose Costumes That Last

Halloween costumes account for millions of pounds of textile waste each year in the UK alone.

Instead of fast-fashion polyester outfits, try these sustainable swaps:

• 👗 Reuse, swap or rent: Organise a mini costume swap with friends or neighbours.
• 🧵 DIY costumes: make fun outfits from existing clothes, cardboard, fabric scraps — involve your children in the creativity, as advised by Arran Eco Savvy Community.    
• 🌿 Non-toxic finishes: Use natural or washable face paints and skip glitter (it’s microplastic)
• ♻️ After Halloween: Wash, store or donate costumes instead of throwing them away.

2. Decorate with Nature and Reuse

You don’t need plastic to set the spooky mood.

Keep your home festive and eco-friendly with ideas like:

• 🍂 Use dried leaves, branches, and pinecones to create autumn displays.
• 🕸️ Avoid fake spider webs outdoors — they can trap small birds and hedgehogs. 
• 💡 Choose LED lights or solar lanterns on timers to save energy and avoid disruption to nocturnal wildlife. In fact, bright floodlights can confuse migrating birds, as explained by RHS. 
• 🎨 Upcycle last year’s decorations with a fresh coat of paint instead of buying new.

3. Pumpkins: Carve, Cook, Don’t Dump

This year, Forestry England issued an important reminder:

“Dumping pumpkins in the woods can harm wildlife,” warns Kate Wollen, Forestry England Ecologist (Oct 2025).

Even though pumpkins are organic, they’re not native forest food.

When left in the wild, they can make animals sick, spread disease, and upset delicate ecosystems.

Here’s what to do instead:

• 🍲 Cook the flesh: Make soups, curries or pies — pumpkins are rich in nutrients.
• 🌰 Roast the seeds for a crunchy, protein-rich snack.
• 🎨 Decorate instead of carve to keep pumpkins edible longer.
• 🌱 Compost or bury your leftover pumpkins in your garden soil. Pumpkins are ~90% water and rich in nitrogen, making them excellent for compost.
• 🚫 Never dump pumpkins in woodlands, parks or nature reserves — even if “for wildlife.”

4. Eco-Friendly Trick-or-Treating

Reduce waste and still have plenty of fun:

• 🛍️ Bring reusable bags, tins or baskets instead of plastic ones.
• 🍫 Choose sweets with foil or paper wrappers over plastic pouches.
• 🏡 Support local or fair-trade confectionery brands.
• 💬 Use the opportunity to teach kids about mindful consumption and kindness to the planet.

5. Sustainable Party Ideas

Hosting a Halloween party? Try this instead of disposables:

• 🥣 Use real plates, cutlery and glasses — or compostable if you must.
• 🕯️ Opt for candles made from natural wax (vegetable or beeswax) instead of paraffin-based ones.
• 🍎 Serve seasonal foods: apple crisps, pumpkin soup, roasted nuts.
• 🚲 Encourage guests to walk, cycle or car-share to reduce carbon footprint.
• ✂️ Set up a craft corner for kids to make masks or decorations from recycled materials.

6. After Halloween

Keep the good energy going once the ghosts and ghouls are gone:

• ♻️ Recycle or compost responsibly.
• 🧺 Store costumes and decorations for reuse.
• 💚 Talk with your children about how small actions protect nature.
• 📅 Note what worked — plan next year’s celebration to be even greener.

7. The Takeaway

An eco-friendly Halloween isn’t about missing out on fun — it’s about creating better traditions.

When we reuse, compost, and celebrate consciously, we’re teaching our children to care for the Earth as much as they love their costumes.

This year, let’s keep the spirit of Halloween alive — not the waste.

💚 From all of us at APOSTROPHAL

Wishing you a spooky, sustainable, joy-filled Halloween.

Explore our range of eco-friendly home essentials and hand-crafted gifts to make your season naturally beautiful:

👉 www.APOSTROPHAL.com