Going green: Eco-friendly fright night family fun is frightfully good idea

Latest article from Angela Terry

Green Green campaigner and consumer expert, Angela Terry, separates climate change facts from fiction and here she explains how you can take simple, practical steps to help save the planet. Follow @ouronehome & visit https://onehome.org.uk/ for more advice.

Q: How can I have an eco-friendly Halloween?

A: From pumpkin picking to trick-or-treating, Halloween is a great excuse to have fun with your friends and family.

But an abundance of cheap costumes, disposable party decorations and plenty of plastic sweet wrappers means that the holiday can have a frightful impact on our environment.

However, there are many simple ways you can make your Halloween green.

Rent, don’t buy

Instead of splashing out on another fancy dress costume made from non-recyclable material, rent a well-made outfit from a local costume supplier.

Local charity shops are also a great place to look for a pre-loved outfit that won’t scare your bank balance.

Swap shop

Get together with some friends and swap last year’s costumes. Or how about creating a costume from items that you already have in your closet?

Save your pumpkin

Last year research by Hubbub revealed that around 35 million pumpkins were bought in the UK with a scary 14.5 million ending up in the food bin.

All pumpkins can be eaten, reducing food waste a simple way to help cut your carbon footprint.

This year don’t just dump your jack-o'-lantern after the kids have carved it, roast your pumpkin seeds and reuse the flesh in tasty soups or curries.

Get creative

Spooky decorations are a big part of Halloween. Try ditching single-use plastic decorations and dig out your craft box.