The Top 7 Green Halloween Tips

Once a Celtic celebration of the harvest and a new season, Halloween is now a little less spiritual and a lot more commercial. With that comes a hefty carbon footprint and an environmental impact that lasts long after you've seen the last of those fun-size Snickers bars.

Luckily, the basics of Halloween - spooky tales, playing dress-up, things that go bump in the night - don't require massive quantities of cash or a wasteful amount of resources as long as you're willing to think ahead and let your imagination run wild.

1. SKIP PLASTIC COSTUMES
If you're trying to be the most realistic pirate, superhero, or, um, mustard bottle this year then a cheap, store-bought costume is the way to go - though the hidden dangers and environmental impact should outweigh even the most enthusiastic compliments from other party-goers. Watch out for the soft vinyl in many mass-produced costumes: that's likely polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which releases dangerous chemicals. Not exactly something you want covering your face (or your child's) - plus, it can't be recycled.

2. GET CREATIVE AT HOME
So what to do instead? With a little planning and creativity, even the least handy DIYers can put together a costume with items they have at home - try stringing old ping-pong balls for Wilma Flintstone's classic necklace, or bend old wire hangers into butterfly wings. Scour your closets (and those of your friends, and neighbours, and local thrift stores) for flashback fashions you can pair up, trim down, sew together, or dye (naturally, of course).

3. FACE FACTS
You just won't look like Marilyn Monroe without red lipstick, or turn into a zombie prom queen without plenty of eyeshadow. But do choose organic, natural makeup for your transformation, and avoid the mercury, phthalates, parabens, and fragrances that come standard in most big-name brands. You can make your own or find an organic retailer.4

4. BAR CLASSIC CANDIES
Half the fun of Halloween is the sugar high, no matter how old you are. But by stocking your bowl with organic, natural treats instead, you can escape many of the chemicals and preservatives that are even scarier than your neighbour's Frankenstein mask. Look for fair trade-sourced chocolates; or sweets made with pure cane sugar, fruit juice, and natural colours.

5. KID-FRIENDLY CARRYALL
When it comes to hauling all those treasures home, reusable canvas bags get the win over plastic or paper for safety and environmental reasons. Buy your own blank bags and let the little ones decorate them with non-toxic paint - they're sure to be an annual highlight - or browse craft stores and online retailers for seasonal offerings that sport witches, ghosts, and goblins galore.

6. SET THE MOOD
The soft flickering of traditional candles gives Halloween its spooky feel - and what's a jack-o-lantern without one? - but the paraffin in wax candles releases toxic chemicals like toluene and benzene through smoke and soot. Clean up your home and keep your lungs healthy with organic soy candles, which last longer and come from renewable soy bean crops.

7. SKIP CANDY AISLE
If you're such a Halloween purist that you can't bear the thought of handing out anything but sugar, then see our ideas above. But if you're the non-traditional type, try stocking up on healthy treats: organic dried fruit, granola bars, and popcorn all work.

Source: Planetgreen.com