The Environmental Costs of Halloween
Halloween’s traditions bring joy and community, but they also create a major environmental footprint that we can no longer dismiss. Fortunately, by making mindful choices — such as opting for thrifted or DIY costumes, reusable decorations, and sustainably sourced candy — we can celebrate Halloween without compromising the planet’s health.
The Environmental Costs of Halloween
We all enjoy this time of year: the air turns crisp, pumpkins adorn porches, and neighborhoods light up with jack-o’-lanterns, skeletons, and inflatable decorations. Halloween’s thrilling festivities bring us endless varieties of costumes, candy, and hours of nighttime fun. Kids and adults suit up in every kind of costume imaginable, going door to door collecting sweets. But have we ever stopped to think about the environmental impact of Halloween? What happens to all the decorations and costumes once the night is over? Where does it all go?
Not to ruin the joyous nights, but Halloween is more than just a fun holiday — it’s a major contributor to plastic pollution, carbon emissions, and waste. From costumes and decorations to candy wrappers, the environmental toll of Halloween is startling. At this moment in the world, we must rethink how we celebrate and make it both festive and sustainable. In recent years, climate change has arisen as a significant and escalating threat. We are continuing to observe the effects of our actions without taking sufficient steps to help.
Halloween Costumes
We know and love Halloween costumes. Halloween is the one chance you have to go all out, putting on costumes and makeup. It is undeniable that costumes are an integral part of Halloween, with Americans spending over $3.6 billion on them each year. Unfortunately, most Halloween costumes are made from non-recyclable, synthetic materials like polyester, nylon, and PVC, which derive from fossil fuels. According to Hubbub, a UK-based environmental nonprofit, an estimated 83% of costumes worn each year end up in landfills — equivalent to over 2,000 tons of plastic that take hundreds of years to decompose. To add to that, when these materials eventually break down, they release massive amounts of greenhouse gases and microplastics, polluting both soil and waterways and seeping into our lives.
The affordability and convenience of synthetic costumes lead many to buy new outfits each year. While these materials may produce flashy and budget-friendly costumes, their impact on the environment comes at a steep price. Many of these costumes, often worn just once and then discarded, contribute to environmental issues that linger long after Halloween ends.
Eco-Friendly Costume Alternatives
With a bit of creativity, it’s possible to participate in this classic Halloween tradition without harming the environment. Here are some sustainable alternatives:
Thrifted Costumes: Secondhand stores are excellent for finding unique, inexpensive, and sustainable costumes. Reusing costumes can reduce the demand for new synthetic materials and breathe new life into pre-owned clothing.
DIY and Upcycled Costumes: Homemade costumes can be made using items that most people already own. By upcycling old clothing or using cardboard, fabric scraps, or natural materials, you can create a one-of-a-kind outfit that’s both special to you and better for the planet.
Costume Swaps: Organizing a costume swap with friends, neighbors, or local groups provides fresh options while cutting down on new purchases. It’s an easy, eco-friendly way to update costumes each year.
Renting Costumes: For elaborate costumes, renting is a great option. This reduces waste and allows people to enjoy high-quality costumes without the need for single-use materials. Opting for sustainable costume alternatives not only allows for a more earth-friendly celebration, but it also makes Halloween more community-centered.
Halloween Decorations
Halloween wouldn’t be complete without its notable eerie decorations, but these items have their own environmental toll. These massive inflatables, plastic skeletons, and artificial cobwebs seen across neighborhoods every October are mostly made from non-biodegradable, petroleum-based plastics. These single-use decorations are typically discarded after Halloween, adding to landfills and sometimes polluting bodies of water, harming wildlife and ecosystems.
It’s estimated that nearly 1,000 tons of plastic waste each year comes from decorations alone, and the energy used to manufacture, transport, and power these items has an enormous carbon footprint. The good news is that with thoughtful choices, Halloween can remain as spooky as ever while staying sustainable. Here’s how:
DIY Decorations: It’s easy to create decorations using compostable materials like pumpkins, hay, and autumn leaves. These can either be composted or returned to nature after Halloween.
Reusable Decor: Durable, high-quality decorations that can be stored and reused are much more environmentally conscious options than single-use decorations. Investing in reusable, non-plastic decorations may cost more initially but will save you money in the long run and help reduce waste.
Solar-Powered Lights: Solar-powered lights are an eco-friendly option for illuminating your Halloween setup without added electricity costs. Solar lights recharge during the day and help create a festive, sustainable ambiance.
By rethinking Halloween decorations, we can reduce plastic waste, cut down on energy use, and make Halloween more environmentally safe for future celebrations.
Halloween Candy
Halloween wouldn’t be the same without candy, but this tradition, like many others, hurts the environment. In the U.S., around 600 million pounds of candy are purchased each Halloween season, and while it brings a new air of excitement, this surge in candy consumption has serious ecological drawbacks.
Many popular candy brands rely on ingredients like palm oil, which contributes to deforestation and habitat destruction for endangered species. Chocolate production itself has a significant carbon footprint, with the industry estimated to contribute over 2% of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, most candy packaging is made of mixed plastics that are difficult, if not impossible, to recycle.
Sustainable Candy Choices
There are ways to minimize the environmental impact of Halloween candy without missing out on the sugar-filled fun:
Ethically Sourced Candy: Look for brands certified by the Rainforest Alliance or Fair Trade, which support sustainable farming practices and fair labor conditions.
Buying in Bulk: Opt for bulk candy to avoid individual wrappers, and consider dividing portions in eco-friendly paper bags or reusable containers.
Eco-Friendly Packaging: Some brands offer candy with biodegradable or recyclable packaging, which can help lessen the plastic waste Halloween typically generates.
Recap
Halloween’s traditions bring joy and community, but they also create a major environmental footprint that we can no longer dismiss. With billions of dollars spent annually on single-use costumes, plastic-heavy decorations, and individually wrapped candies, Halloween has become a significant contributor to plastic waste and pollution. Fortunately, by making mindful choices — such as opting for thrifted or DIY costumes, reusable decorations, and sustainably sourced candy — we can celebrate Halloween without compromising the planet’s health.
As more people become aware of Halloween’s environmental impact, we have a chance to shape new traditions that make Halloween both fun and sustainable. By thinking green this season, we can ensure that Halloween remains a celebration for both people and the planet, creating a legacy of joy that leaves a lasting, positive impact on our communities and ecosystems.