Halloween is a time for candy, costumes, and pumpkin carving, but have you ever thought about how much waste we actually produce during the holiday? As our consumption levels increase, our footprint on the planet gets deeper, and more harmful.n We recently came across a few lists of helpful tips from Harvard Graduate School and Sustainable America on how your office, family, and friends can celebrate the holiday without adding to the terror Mother Nature has already experienced in 2020. We compiled our favorite 5 tips to go green on Halloween! Check them out below!
1. RE-USE and GO GREEN ON HALLOWEEN
This is a big one. Re-use and recycle some of your past Halloween costumes and decor. While it is always fun to craft a new look each year, there are ways to do it without contributing to the waste created in the textile industry. Making your own costume is a great way to be sustainable! If you want to go even further, create a costume that is renewable energy focused and spark the conversation of Going Green with neighbors and friends!
source: suncommon
2. THROW A GREEN HALLOWEEN PARTY
2020 Halloween parties may look a little different this year, as many of us will find ourselves celebrating via tiny tiles on Zoom! Encourage your attendees to use compostable party products. They can even make it a little spookier by turning off all the lights and adding some solar powered twinkle lights to your party pad.
3. PURCHASE LOCALLY GROWN PUMPKINS
We know… we need pumpkins on Halloween. The amount of waste however that comes from pumpkins is astronomical. Lower your footprint by purchasing locally grown pumpkins at your farmers market or pumpkin patch. After the holiday is over, compost those jack-o-lanterns. If you are feeling inspired by all the quarantine baking posts, then use the insides and seeds for some post-halloween pumpkin dishes!
4. BATTERY POWER YOUR HOME
Become energy independent and less reliant on the grid that is powered by coal-fired power plants. While this may be a bigger tip and less feasible for this Halloween, treating yourself to a free solar consultation to get the conversation started is a great place to start!
5. GIVE BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY
On a holiday that is traditional consumption focused, find special ways to give back to your communities...past handing out candy to ghosts and goblins that ring your *virtual* doorbell. There are many organizations that host food drives, and volunteer events this time of year!
Simply Solar is hosting a food drive on behalf of Sonoma County’s Redwood Empire Food bank! If you would like to donate any food to our collection bin, email us and we will coordinate a socially distanced drop off or pick up!
