Crafting a Green Halloween

Oct. 17, 2023
Maria Arantes | Communications and Social Media Student Manager
sustainable halloween

Halloween season is finally here! If you've been pondering your choice of costume or decor, this year we’re inviting you to be mindful of our environmental footprint and explore sustainable alternatives.

Often an example of "Fast Fashion," perhaps the scariest thing about Halloween is its detrimental impact on the planet and the people involved in garment production. As many people rush to buy new costumes, decorations, and single-use items, millions of cheap, low-quality costumes and products are produced, carrying the ecological and labor baggage synonymous with the fast fashion industry. 

A great way to reduce waste this season is by activating your creative side. Since almost 85 percent of costumes get buried in a landfill, why not take a cue from Frankenstein and reanimate these discarded pieces? 

Instead of buying brand-new costumes and decorations, we can upcycle our existing clothing into imaginative DIY costumes and projects, swap clothes with friends, buy second-hand at local thrift stores, or create our own zero-waste decor. By using our creativity to put together unique outfits and crafts from existing materials, we can reduce the demand for new products and turn this spooky season into a sustainable one. Bonus: Homemade costumes and decorations are not only more unique but also budget-friendly!

If you live in the dorms, engage in a recycling competition, set to run from October 1-31, Bin It To Win It! This challenge aims to encourage proper recycling practices, reduce contamination, and foster a sense of community among residents, ensuring a holistic approach to sustainability education and engagement. With a total of $1,700 cash up for grabs, this is your opportunity to recycle right and win big!

So consider this your invitation to think beyond fast fashion and single-use plastics and focus on making Halloween a time of creativity, community, and eco-consciousness. Brush the cobwebs off those old sweaters (or not!), and always remember, the most sustainable costume is the one already hanging in your closet!