Escrito por In the months leading up to Halloween, big urgent orders for cheap Halloween swag results in garment industry workers being forced to work long hours for very little pay. To add to those horrors, most costumes are made out of polyester which is derived from the oil industry and is non-biodegradable. Americans spend 6.9 billion on Halloween alone, most of which ends up in our landfills. There are various things you can do to adjust one’s habits to align with your morals, and I’ve partnered up with my fellow Ethical Writers & Creatives Coalition members to offer ideas and options for such efforts, all of which are laied out below.
For example, creating your own DIY costume by upcycling second hand, or swapping last year’s costumes with pals, are a sustainable alternative to purchasing new.
Before I moved to Europe, Halloween was an event I’d start preparing for as soon as summer had ended. My mum had always encouraged us to make our own costumes as kids and I got really into making my own costumes out of second-hand clothing over the years.
I’ve got a few DIYs online for some of the costumes I made in the past if you’re looking for some costume upcycling inspiration (they’re from way back so forgive the formatting/photos):
– I made a CLOWN COSTUME out of an upcycled oversized shirt I got at a second-hand store and a blouse which was stained and in their $1 bin.
– I also made a DISCO COSTUME out of a second-hand blouse, adding it on to.
Halloween is my favorite holiday, because A. I love Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and B. I love dressing up in costumes! I don’t really participate in the candy aspect anymore – all that sugar and disposable wrappers are not my style – but I do love a good costume. There are a couple things I keep in mind when planning my outfit.
1. The outfit is not culturally appropriative or offensive to a marginalized group.
I wrote a Refinery29 article about this, if you would like to learn more about when a costume crosses the line from cute to not OK.
2. The outfit is sustainable.
Otherwise, I’m always the most impressed and engaged with interesting, creative costumes that someone made using things right in their closet. The guessing game is half the fun! If you have to buy something to complete the look, try eBay, Etsy, or a secondhand site or store first. And aim to buy something that you’ll wear again, or that you know you can resell afterwards. Last year I bought an American Apparel velvet dress and striped black leggings, then borrowed a lace-up bustier from a lady friend to make my goth costume. I ended up getting appendicitis that weekend, so I have no pictures for you. But I’ve worn the dress and leggings several times since!
Ever since I graduated from university, I haven’t been very festive. That’s probably out of sheer laziness for the most part, but also partly from thinking about all the cheaply made, possibly toxic and nonbiodegradable waste that’s generated from all of these single-use decorations and accessories. But actually, I’m thinking I should start participating in such events again — just with all of the green knowledge I’ve acquired over the past years to prove where there’s will to do things greener and cleaner, there’s a way.
For treats, for example, we can buy healthier ones in bulk and serve them in large wooden bowls. For costumes, we can get creative and make something out of our old clothes or even trash (e.g., old newspaper, cardboard boxes, food wrappers, …etc.). Or if we’re lazy and don’t want to D.I.Y., we can go treasure-hunting at second-hand stores to buy done-for-you costumes passed on from their previous owners — costumes that honestly have only been worn once before. We can even make a pre-Halloween party out of this treasure-hunting process.
I’ve never been big on Halloween. For the last couple of years, the vibe of the holiday have really creeped me out, and not in a good way. Celebrating demons and death is not my thing. Haunted houses are—pardon my French—scary as fuck. So I’m making my Halloween sustainable by not participating and doing something else. I’ll be going to a classical music concert. The Toronto Symphony Orchestra will be playing Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5. That’s kind of scary, right?
While I’m eschewing Halloween, I still like costume parties. I usually get creative by reworking what I already own or by borrowing clothes from people. In the past, I have rented costumes. Recently, I dressed up like a nerd by borrowing clothes from 5 real-life nerds.
Ever since college turned Halloween into just another opportunity for getting wasted and romping around scantily clad, I have gracefully declined to participate in the holiday. Instead of drinking or candy-binging, I prefer to spend time with my boyfriend (our anniversary is on Halloween after all – but that’s another story) enjoying a warm home-cooked meal. But before I became a Halloween-Scrooge, I was the queen of homemade Halloween! Three Halloween costumes from my childhood that can be (and sort of were) done sustainably:
1. Harry Potter – everyone’s favorite fantasy character can be easily mimicked with a pair of your nerdy friend’s old glasses, a striped scarf, a blanket worn as a cloak, and a bit of eyeliner (non-toxic of course) to make that defining lightning bolt on your forehead.
2. A washing machine – no really, I was a washing machine one Halloween. This is the ultimate upcycling costume; all you need to do is take a big old box, paint it white, cut a door in the top and armholes in the sides, and glue some old bottle caps on to act as dials! I might even call this my greatest Halloween costume ever.
FRAN | Ethical Unicorn
I get the feeling that a lot of EWC members are based in the US, however I am English. Because of this I get a little weirded out by how intense the American love for Halloween is. We do celebrate, but why get so excited when you have Bonfire night just 5 days later? I mean, you get to celebrate a foiled attempt to blow up Parliament by blowing up loads of fireworks in the sky instead, and that is fun.
Although commercialisation and rising popularity of Halloween has definitely crept into the UK over the years, when I was growing up if you went trick or treating you were just as likely to get tricked with a water gun in the face than you were to get candy (for real, this actually happened to me about 10 years ago). I grew up with parents keeping it a bit more fun, chill and eco-friendly, and this is how I’d like to celebrate when I’m older. We used to play games and have fun at home as a family, doing things like bobbing for apples, hangman, and baking. My parents were never anti-Halloween, they were just English, so a lot of my early memories associate it a lot more with time spent together being silly. It’s just nice to know that you can still get spooky, dress up and participate without having to buy into consumerism of a. unsustainable costumes or b. way too many sweets (disclaimer, I did still get some sweets).
However, if you are planning on going all out for Halloween, please don’t culturally appropriate!
Although I don’t have an exceptional affinity for Halloween, I have two young boys who think Halloween is pretty sweet. I don’t mind getting into the holiday spirit on their behalf, but I’ve built a few parameters around our plans each year in an effort to be a bit more intentional about how we celebrate.
For costumes, we buy solid colored everyday clothes (a new pair of sweatpants or long sleeve shirt, for example, if needed) that provide a base for a costume. They wear these pieces many times after the holiday. We finish the costumes with things we already have around the house. Last year, they dressed up as Elmo and Captain America. This year, they plan to be ninjas. My boys are only 5 and 3, but I don’t think they know yet that stores sell pre-made costumes. Eventually, they’ll figure it out, but I’ll keep that section of the store a secret as long as possible.
When collecting candy, I’ve intentionally provided the boys with small containers or bags so they fill up quickly. Not only do we run out of space for more candy, but they’re happy that their bags are “full of candy”. Two years ago, we used pint-sized Halloween buckets that we reuse for other purposes. We’ve also upcycled old t-shirts into trick-or-treating bags using a sewing machine and using fabric tape instead of sewing.
I grew up in South Africa in the 80’s and 90’s; Halloween was something we saw on American TV shows and movies. We never celebrated Halloween at all (they do now), sp I find the whole concept of Halloween to be quite strange. My husband, on the other hand, LOVES it, all of it, and calls me the Halloween Grinch. I’ve come to terms with this label!
A good DIY costume is key, and in most cases, you can create something fun with items you already have. But the bigger issue is the consumption of chocolate from brands that don’t have the best track record when it comes to human rights and environmental stewardship.
This is a much larger issue for sure and one that calls for open dialogue between the companies that make the chocolate and the local government who accept large kickback from the same companies.
Here are a few brands that I like:
I realize this is a hard sell for some as most people don’t want to preached to, especially during a “holiday” like this. But hopefully, this will open people’s eyes to the issues of over-consumption during a “holiday” that, in my opinion, has become even scarier. Bottom line, I make my Halloween more sustainable by being mindful of the items I buy and the impact they have on the world.
I love the challenge of turning the ordinary into extraordinary and whenever I can wear a moustache – even better! Aside from a few sexy (and probably insensitive) times in college, I have managed to find the most comfortable, cost-effective costume by using things I already own. Last year, a sheet turned into a Whacky-wiggly-waving arm guy. Honestly, it’s amazing what you can do with duct tape and a dedication to make believe.
If you don’t have all you need- borrow! What’s the point of having friends if you can’t raid their closet? And check out thrift stores. They have gotten extremely good at curating for the holidays.
As far as individual wrapped candy goes- my house does not get many Trick-or-Treaters. Bulk is best- but unfortunately, those poison candy rumours ruined it for everyone… So I am going to convince my SO to look for organic brands we trust wrapped in cardboard. (Which might be raisin’s but hey, they’re nature’s candy right?)
With my birthday two days before Halloween, I always have a Halloween/birthday party. And, I love it! Well, I love putting events together and dressing up, so double yays.
For the party, here are things I do to stay sustainable:
– Reusable decorations that are not made from plastic but things like fabric banners, metal pumpkins, etc.
– Serve only finger food on non-industrial compostable plates and napkins…and I actually compost them
– Serve all plant-based foods
– For costumes, I use a mix of things I already own and vintage at a local store.
Halloween is a favourite in la case BEAUTYCALYPSE. Even my blog’s name lends itself beautifully to an Ecogothic/ Ecohorror theme. So, of course, there is a whole collection of articles dedicated to making Halloween (or Samhain) greener, including recipes and entertaining tips – a Healthy Halloween Best Of!
Several articles about toxins lurking in the “conventional” decorations and costumes, among which Beware of Toxic Halloween, are the darker but much-needed part of the story.
And because I don’t feel like supporting the “sexy ____” costume trend, I tend to pick obscure and majestic figures, for example, a Celtic goddess, Helen of the Ways.
To share a few helpful links:
I have always loved Halloween and have rediscovered my joy of it via my son. Keeping it Ethical and sustainable is easy for me because I will not put anything on my son’s skin that makes me feel uneasy.
There are many water-based non-toxic, cruelty-free makeup brands out there to use and even Natural Face Paint. For the grown-ups, Cruelty-free makeup abounds and liven things up with biodegradable glitter from shops like Eco-Sparkle Fun or Eco Stardust perfect for festivals and holidays. True Glue offers all-natural lash adhesive and Ethical Lashes.
Costumes are always some sort of upcycled outfit. Last year cleverly placed bandanas and some clothes we already owned became a pirate outfit, and this year the DIY outfit is a painted cardboard box.
We also have a birthday party close to Halloween so I am always conscious of the footprint our party will make. Festive accessories that are biodegradable are easy enough to find online. There are even some speciality shops for Eco Children’s parties, with Natural Latex Balloons that are biodegradable. Out Party favours are always useful and somehow sensible like fun pencils rather than small plastic toys. This year we have the added bonus of making our own pinata out of recycled free newspapers and a recycled cardboard box.
