In case the wall-to-wall plastic pumpkins at the local shops haven’t given it away yet, it’s spooky season!
No doubt your child has big plans for their Halloween costume this year, but let’s be frank. As busy parents, Halloween costumes are exactly the kind of thing we leave to the last minute, and it’s far too easy to rush to Amazon and order a next-day fast-fashion costume made from unsustainable materials. We get it, we’ve done it ourselves, and unfortunately, we can’t make life any less busy for you. However, we can help make your spooky season a little more sustainable this year with these easy Halloween Hacks.
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Crafty and caring costumes – sustainable and eco-friendly outfits and DIY Halloween makeup
- DIY costumes: Make your own costumes using items you already own. Save a few delivery boxes to create the structure of your costume, and dig through the back of your wardrobe for a few old pieces that can be turned into ghosts or vampires
- Costume swaps: Reach out to your community via local Facebook groups to arrange a costume swap, a brilliant way to give old costumes a new life and you might make new friends whilst you’re at it!
- Rent costumes: Big fan of dressing up? Instead of buying new costumes, look for companies that rent them, reducing the demand for fast fashion and single-use outfits
- Think second-hand: Vinted, Depop, or Ebay are full of great pre-loved finds, and charity shops are treasure troves of amazing costumes at this time of year. Check your school’s Uniformd page for any costumes that parents might have donated from previous school Halloween activities
- Eco-friendly makeup: Bio-degradable and non-toxic makeup products are already your friend, especially when they avoid plastic packaging. And you’ve probably already got plenty of eyeshadows that can create a spooky look for your little ones without needing to buy anything new!
- DIY face paint: Feeling daring? Make your very own face paint! Natural ingredients like cornstarch, vegetable oils, and food colouring can create an excellent (not to mention spooky!) Face paint – this brilliant guide has exactly what you’ll need for face painting fun
And don’t forget one of the most important sustainable halloween actions… donate old costumes and decorations! If you have old costumes or decorations that you no longer use, donate them to local schools or charity shops, or give them to someone who could use them next year. If your school is on Uniformd, they can upload your old costumes to their store and give them away or sell to other parents in your community.
DIY decorating for a sustainable halloween that doesn’t cost the earth
- DIY decorations: Create your own Halloween decor using natural or upcycled materials, such as crafting garlands from recycled paper or fabric scraps, or creating these book page ghosts from an old book or notepad. Old jars make great candle holders, and any old black fabric can become a spider with a little imagination
- Reusable decor: If you’re buying decorations, we’re not judging. Invest in high-quality, reusable decorations made from sustainable materials, then store and reuse them year after year. After all, ghouls, spiders and zombies NEVER go out of fashion this time of year!
- Solar-powered lights: If you have them, opt for solar-powered lights to illuminate your front porch or back garden. If you’re buying new, avoid the pumpkin-shaped lights that are very seasonal and go for lights that will last throughout the Christmas and New Year period
- Compost your pumpkins: Carved pumpkins can be composted instead of binned (as long as they have not been painted or glittered). Remember to roast the seeds and add them to your kid’s porridge in the morning—they’re a great source of fibre!
Trick-or-Treating, with an emphasis on the treats
- Reusable trick-or-treat bags: For a more sustainable Halloween, skip single-use plastic bags and go for reusable cloth bags, pillowcases, or homemade trick-or-treat bags (seriously, your kid won’t care about collecting chocolates in a pillowcase because, well… sugar is sugar, right?!). If you’re going to be giving out store bought treats, try to find ones in recyclable or compostable packaging or bulk options that minimise waste
- Eco-friendly alternatives: Look for treats with minimal or no packaging. Bonus points if you can go for fair trade or organic options, ensuring that you’re supporting sustainable farming practices and ethical labour conditions
- Vegan or plant-based treats: Plant-based candies or chocolates are generally better for the environment because of their lower carbon footprint. We LOVE this 3-ingredient recipe for gummy worms from Emma Hollingsworth.
The main thing here is to remember – despite what the internet tells you, there are no expectations on you, and children aren’t entitled to turn up at your door expecting food or money! If you don’t want to participate in trick or treating, you don’t have to. And nobody will judge you if you don’t have time to bake cookies from scratch – you’re busy.
Finally… ditch the social media trends.
Just because every TikTok influencer is decorating their front door, creating an entire haunted house at home, and your Instagram feed is full of families going all out with matching costumes doesn’t mean you need to.
What’s important is that you and your children have a great time watching a few spooky movies, trick or treating, and enjoying a sustainable Halloween in a way that’s affordable for your family and better for the planet.
About Uniformd
Uniformd gives UK schools an easy-to-use service that enables them to sell pre-loved, donated, and second-hand uniforms, creating a more sustainable, fairer ecosystem for schools and parents alike.
Schools can sign up for free and list all their available second-hand uniforms (and Halloween Costumes!). Parents can then browse and purchase the items at their convenience, picking them up from the school admin office (or wherever the second-hand uniforms are kept!) – and the funds go straight back to the schools.
Sign up today for a better way to buy pre-loved school wear.
