OUR SUGGESTIONS FOR A "NO WASTE" HALLOWEEN
Central Europe has slightly adopted this celtic practice celebrating the returns of the dead´s spirits to their homes. If like many, you want to use this tradition to make a great time with your children, friends and/or family, we do believe there are many ways to make it a zero waste occasion. Here are our zero waste and eco-friendly suggestions.
1. USE REAL PUMPKINS
There are many plastic or paper pumpkins on the market. We have to stop buying these, this is the only way that such production will cease to impact negatively. Moreover, for a low impact, it is far more fun to carve faces in real pumpkins, sourced from local farmers if possible.
Do not paint them, just carve them. Paint is not compostable or biodegradable.
2. DO NOT THROW THE INSIDES
Pumpkins are generous. Dry out the seeds and plant them in May/ June. , they grow easily. If you don´t have a garden or balcony, give it to friends who do and in exchange, ask them to save a few the following years after for your next Halloween parties.
There are many uses that can be made of the pumpkin: Cook a Roasted Pumpkin soup, make baked Parmesan Pumpkin fries, bake a pumpkin pie or cookies.
Here is a simple recipe for a Pumpkin Soup.
3. COSTUMES
If you don´t want to reuse last year´s costume, try and be creative: we suggest second hand stores that can be treasure troves. There are many accessories that can be found and creativity will flow as you go through the stores.
Ask your family and friends if they have anything you could borrow.
One can also borrow friends costumes from the previous years.
An old classic also is to use old bed sheets, cut holes and wander around as a ghost!
4. BAKE TREATS, DO NOT BUY THEM
Baking your own Halloween treats will save on the single-use packaging from shop-bought goods.
The internet is full of ideas. sweet or savouries, easy or sophisticated, the thrill will be there.
Why not organise a contest among children and have them prepare them?
5. USE ALL NATURAL DECOR
Autumn nature offers a large range of products that can help decorate, avoiding any non recyclable: Chestnuts, Pine Cones, Leaves etc. Use Jute Cord, make wreaths with branches... and add mini pumpkins to decorate.
