As the temperature cools and the leaves begin to turn into warm shades of reds and yellows, fall festivities have begun to ramp up. These festivities include my personal favorite holiday, Halloween! While Halloween can be full of fun and games, we can all do our small part in finding ways to enjoy the holiday while being eco-conscious. Just small acts of sustainability can make a big change in the world if we all do our part, so keep some of these tips in mind throughout this ~spooky~ season:
1. Opt to carve your pumpkins
For some people, this may already be a Halloween tradition. Choosing to carve pumpkins, instead of painting them, leaves the pumpkin in its natural state while still creating some incredible art. Plus, when the season is over and your pumpkins get tired looking, you can toss them into a nearby forest/natural area where they can serve as a delicious snack for local wildlife. You can also compost them, if you have access to one.
2. Turn your pumpkin “guts’ into a tasty snack
However you choose to decorate your pumpkins this season, you can hollow out the inside of your pumpkin and put those pumpkin guts to good use! When you pull out the inside of the pumpkin, separate out the seeds into a strainer. Later on, you can rinse them off, toss them in a bowl with some olive oil and your favorite seasonings (I typically just do salt but you can find plenty of recipes online) and throw them on a baking sheet, roast them in the oven for about 15-20 minutes and have yourself a delicious snack! Pumpkin seeds are a delicious, healthy snack, and a great source of protein.
3. Up-cycle your costume
Challenge yourself (and your friends and/or family) to come up with unique costume ideas that are made out of re-used or up-cycled products! Use some cardboard boxes and paint to turn yourself into a robot, milk carton or even a vending machine! I also recommend heading to your local thrift store to find inspiration. There are tons of outfit options you can mix and match to turn yourself into a hippie from the 70s, a rock n’ roll star, or really any 1900s/early 2000s throwback.
If you’re crafty, you can reuse some of the clothing/fabric and get even more creative. Not only are these costumes options more creative, they’re inexpensive and fun to create!
4. Reusable trick or treat bags
Although pretty common, this one is always good practice! Since candy from trick or treating produces a lot of single use wrapper waste, be sustainable by sending your kids (or yourself) out with a reusable trick or treat bag. Anything from a canvas bag to a pillow case will suffice, and you can reuse it time and time again!
5. Be mindful of your trash
As a kid, I usually couldn’t wait until I got home to break into my candy stash. If you or your family are like me, be sure to be mindful of your candy wrappers and stash them in your trick or treat/separate trash bags until you can properly dispose of them. It’s a small act that can go a long way!
Lastly, don’t forget to enjoy the holiday and the fall season! Whether Halloween plays a big part in your life or a small one, it’s always good to keep your impact on the world in mind. As always, stay safe and enjoy the holiday season!
Do you have any of your own spooky and sustainable tricks? Let me know in the comments!
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Gina Errico 
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