Ready to celebrate the holidays focused on sugar shock?

Halloween is only a week away, but you can maximize your celebrations at any age.

With all of those traditionally-individually wrapped candies (estimated at over 598 million pounds at halloween alone!) generating wrappers, there’s room to make this holiday a little more sustainable.

Let’s discuss how you can join festivities in a sustainable way!

6 Ways to Green Your Halloween

1. Swap it Up. Don’t fall for the expensive, mass-produced costumes this year! Instead, mix it up by trading outfits and accessories from friends or familys’ past costumes.

Get others on the bandwagon by, hosting a swap party where everyone can find what they need and get rid of the old all at once.  It’s the perfect gathering before heading out for a night of spooks and drinks.

2. Find your treasure from another man’s donation. Still need to complete the perfect costume?  Don’t forget to check out local consignment stores and thrift shops for great finds!  The Attic and Greene Street are two great options.

3. Embrace Your Inner Philadelphian. Feeling creative?  Use leftover household materials to design your own Philly-inspired costume this year.

Make a cut-out of the Channel 6 Zooballoon by attaching to a basket around your waist and adding cardboard around the base.  Or, cut-up one of your Phillies T-shirts and be a distressed zombie fan (after this not-so-swell season).  Of course, Philly classics like a Tastykake or the Liberty Bell are always crowd pleasers.

4. Cater your Party locally.  Throwing a festive bash for with your friends? Serves cocktails from Art in the Age and sweet treats from The Night Kitchen Bakery & Cafe.  Both local providers use sustainable practices and taste delicious to make your Halloween party a hit!

5. Shop Smart:  When buying treats to hand out to trick-or-treaters, you don’t have to go the conventional route. Keep 3 questions in mind: Is it healthy? Is it environmentally friendly? Does it promote free trade?

Lucky for you, there’s alternatives to the stereotypical sugary candies. Consider buying organic snacks made with wholesome ingredients like Surf Sweets, or ones that donate to charity causes – such as Endangered Species Chocolates.  If you find products wrapped in recycled or less packaging, even better.!  Lastly, go local when you can.

6. Decorate Like a Pro: Fall is naturally filled with beautiful colors, shapes, and textures, so why not take advantage?! If you’re feeling really in the spirit, craft your own seasonal wreath with leaves, acorns, and whatever else you can get your hands on! Or, go the traditional route and fill the house and front lawn with pumpkins, gourds, and haystacks. Head over to Shadybrook Farm or Linvilla Orchards to find your supplies.

Readers, what are you doing this year to make your Halloween sustainable?

Photo Credit: The Night Kitchen Bakery & Cafe

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is a senior at Saint Joseph’s University, majoring in Communications & Digital Media. She has a passion for traveling, fitness, and food sustainability (and food in general)! She spent a semester abroad in Florence, experiencing how sustainability-conscious Europe is, which inspired her to do her part, too. Her dream career includes the continuation of traveling internationally. View all posts by Jessica Rutkowski