Go Green This Halloween!

iStockphoto / Oleg Prikhodko

Commercial holidays give the retail industry a huge boost every year and Halloween is no exception. The National Retail Federation predicts this Halloween season will bring in almost $6 billion nationwide, as evidenced by the rash of costume and party stores popping up in strip malls and abandoned stores. What’s really scary about this time of year is the impact of the carbon footprint that goes along with all that consumption. Here are some eco-friendly tips to help you and your family “go green” this Halloween:

1. Say “NO” to plastic. And I’m not just talking about credit cards. Many plastic Halloween costumes and masks are cheaply made from toxic PVC which can leach harmful chemicals. This makes it a poor choice of material to place over a child’s face. If you really need or desire a retail costume or mask look for ones marked “PVC Free.”

2. Recycled costumes. Instead of buying a costume, start looking around at home for items that can be turned into a creative, one-of-a-kind costume. Why send your child out looking like everyone else when you can put together something that is totally unique and every other kid will want? You can find some great ideas for recycled Halloween costumes at The Daily Green. If you aren’t feeling all that crafty or simply don’t have the time, consider some of the Halloween costume swap sites such as ThredUp.

3. Go easy on the makeup. Makeup is essential for many Halloween costumes. You simply can’t get that ghastly green-faced witch without some form of cosmetic. However, you can make sure that you use only organic products that don’t have the mercury and other harmful chemicals found in many big name cosmetic brands. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics offers some DIY recipes for homemade face paints that use food-based ingredients. (Note: the same rules apply to hair dyes and sprays. Use natural and organic dyes so that when the remaining product goes down the drain you aren’t dumping toxic chemicals into the water supply.)

4. Avoid traditional sweet treats. Halloween really wouldn’t be worth celebrating for many people if all candy were excluded from the fun. However, carefully choosing the type of treats handed out can prevent kiddies from ingesting chemicals and preservatives that are stuffed into many popular candies. Besides, organic, natural alternatives often taste better. Look for fair trade-sourced chocolates, candy made with real cane sugar or fruit juice and without artificial colors. If you want to avoid candy altogether, pocket toys or craft items can be a lot of fun to pass out.

5. Use frighteningly frugal decorations. Plan to decorate for decades by avoiding disposable products. Craft a scarecrow using old clothes stuffed with newspapers and burlap for the head and hands. Make a real cornucopia with mini-pumpkins and gourds from the local pumpkin patch. This is also a great place to find the perfect Jack-o-lantern. Scoop out the insides to be used in recipes that call for pumpkin. And don’t forget to toast the seeds for a crunchy snack. Light up the night with soy candles that are produced from environmentally safe soy bean crops – unlike their scary paraffin and petroleum candle counterparts. Purchase reusable decorations from garage sales and thrift shops that can be used year after year.

Here’s to a safe, happy and green Halloween!