In brief
With Halloween spending in the U.S. projected to exceed $11 billion, experts are urging consumers to adopt sustainable practices to minimize waste from costumes, decorations, and candy wrappers.
As Halloween approaches, Americans are gearing up for a spending spree, anticipated to surpass $11 billion this year. This expenditure will cover a variety of items including candy, costumes, and decorations, ranging from oversized inflatable pumpkins to elaborate skeletons. However, with the rise in consumption comes a significant environmental cost, as many of these items are likely to end up in landfills shortly after the holiday.Sabina Magliocco, a professor of anthropology at the University of British Columbia, reflects on the transformation of Halloween over the decades. "It’s definitely morphed over the course of my lifetime into something that generates a lot more waste," she notes, highlighting the shift from a traditional celebration to a distinctly commercial one. Magliocco fondly recalls her favorite costume as "roadkill," demonstrating how personal creativity can yield more meaningful festivities.Historically, Halloween was a sacred time believed to thin the veil between the living and the dead, where ancestral spirits roamed. In earlier traditions, villagers would offer food and drink to these spirits as a gesture of hospitality. In post-World War II America, however, Halloween evolved into a mass-marketed celebration complete with commercial goods and group festivities, leading to increased waste.To counteract the negative impacts of this evolution, experts suggest several sustainable practices for this Halloween season. Parents and children can opt for homemade costumes, which not only reduce waste but also foster creativity and personalization. Reusable decorations can replace single-use plastic ones, while candies with minimal packaging can mitigate wrapper waste.Creating experiences over things is another way to embrace sustainability. Organizing community events such as costume swaps and neighborhood trick-or-treating can foster connection and reduce the amount of new purchases. By adopting these mindful practices, Halloween can be celebrated in a manner that honors tradition while respecting the health of our planet.
