Continue layering the corn husks until the entire wreath is covered, achieving a full and visually appealing design.

You could also give out small gifts instead of candy. Things like Halloween-themed pencils, erasers, mini coloring books, or bookmarks are relatively low waste even once they reach their end of life. Cut four shorter strips of paper and glue them around the circle on top of the larger strips. (These tabs will be on the inside of your lantern and will hold it down so that your lantern is actually a sphere instead of a narrow tube!)If you can’t find what you need in your own wardrobe or that of a friend, then the next most sustainable option is to buy secondhand.

To keep October 31 st feeling as wholesome as pumpkin spice, aim for a zero waste Halloween. While it’s hard to achieve a completely waste free Halloween experience, it’s amazing how close you can get while still being festive and celebrating in style. For more Halloween-specific decorations, try to repurpose. Ghosts made from old sheets and bats made from nylons and old hangers might just be a perfect way to reuse things that are worn out, and the internet has tons of ideas for easy DIY plastic-free decorations. Secondhand Haunts Maybe you were that kid who had an amazing parent or grandparent to help you realize your unique costume dreams. Now you get to be that person – to make costumes for kids or for yourself! As the bewitching season approaches, it’s the perfect time to conjure up some eco-friendly magic for your non-plastic decor. Personally, I want my sustainable Halloween decorations to not only haunt in style but also leave a minimal environmental footprint. Even though it may not be possible to completely get rid of all plastic, I want to do what I can to at least reduce the amount of plastic that ends up in our environment… Ok, not really. I don’t hate the holiday or get all grumpy about it. But decorating for the holidays doesn’t come naturally to me and feels like a whole lot of work. So instead, I’m an aspirational Halloween decorator. I scour the Internet for amazing Halloween mantels, tablescapes, festive decor ideas, and spooky Halloween displays.There you have it—my list of the best zero-waste Halloween decorations! By infusing creativity into our celebrations while honoring our planet, we illuminate a path toward a greener, more conscious future. Soak the corn husks in water to make them pliable and easy to work with. This step prepares them for shaping and adhering to the wreath base. It’s Bone-Appetit (see what I did there?!) with these eco-friendly and sustainable Halloween treat ideas: For Halloween Parties Do you know what the scariest part of Halloween is? It’s not the talk of ghosts and ghouls in the air, but the sheer amount of waste we collectively produce. Alternatively, some people suggest leaving your pumpkin outside in your garden for animals to eat. If you do this, make sure to remove any candle wax, paint, or other embellishments you may have used.

Halloween decorations can indeed have environmental impacts, particularly if they are not sourced or disposed of responsibly. For starters, many Halloween decorations, especially cheap ones, are made from single-use plastic. Plastic production contributes to pollution, resource depletion, and ocean contamination. Pull the elastic to gather and close the fabric, effectively covering the bowl with a fabric pumpkin design. This reusable cover adds a festive touch to your Halloween table setting while reducing single-use plastic wrap.

Did you know a single supermarket pumpkin has hundreds of uses beyond carving? It was estimated that 24 Million pumpkins were carved in 2020, and two in five people weren’t aware you could eat a carving pumpkin. Cut a small circle of paper for the base. (Again, the size will depend on how large you want your pumpkin to be.) Below, I’ve gathered up some awesome ideas for low-waste and zero-waste Halloween decorations from some really creative stylists. In a few cases, I even came up with some ideas myself, but I’ll mostly give credit where credit is due (i.e. not me). Wait.. Zero Waste Halloween Decorations? To create your pumpkin’s ridges, first take a long piece of string and thread your needle. Put the needle through the top of the pumpkin and thread it all the way through to the bottom. Keep threading it from the top to bottom several times, tying a knot at the bottom each time to keep your ridges tight. (See the video tutorial above for a demonstration of this.) The other green option is to make your own decorations. The internet is awash with homemade Halloween decorations.

Arrange the twigs in a circular shape to form the wreath base. Alternatively, you can use a cardboard cutout as the base. Begin by collecting dried corn husks, which can often be found at grocery stores or markets. (Of course, you could also just use your own after you make some corn on the cob!) Using cardboard boxes, used kitchen rolls, and plastic bottles to create spooky animals such as bats and spiders. When Halloween is over you can simply recycle these materials as normal. Unlike my favorite sustainable Halloween decor, temporary decorations can create a significant amount of waste after the holiday. When improperly disposed of, these items can end up in landfills, where they may take years to break down and release harmful substances into the environment. The possibilities are endless, and I’ve included a lot of ideas above to get your gears turning. How do you have a plastic-free Halloween?

Don’t spare any piece of the pumpkin

If you want to, you can add more details, like ribbon or fall berries. There are honestly so many different looks you can create with this one! Can you put together a fun costume from items of clothing you already own? If you’re struggling, can you borrow something from a friend? Or have a Halloween costume swap if you don’t want to wear the same costume as the previous year? If it’s for kids, can you swap costumes with other parents? If you don’t have the time or desire to make your own costume, consider hosting a costume swap or asking friends to lend you something that will easily create a look. Start by repurposing clear glass jars or containers. Utilizing glass containers ensures visibility and allows for a creative display of miniature haunted scenes. Have fun crafting and incorporating these zero-waste Halloween decorations into your spooky festivities!