Sustainability is probably the last thing you think about during the spooky season. It’s just one day where you dress up and enjoy sweet treats — how can it be that bad? However, Halloween's environmental impact is even scarier than the monster costumes and ghost stories.

According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), 69% of Americans plan to celebrate Halloween this year with a total expenditure of $10.6 billion on Halloween products — a return to pre-pandemic levels. Of this, costume spending will amount to $3.6 billion.

Although this is good news for retailers, widespread participation in Halloween festivities will cause undue harm to the planet. For instance, just one trick-or-treater produces a pound of waste — a terrifying statistic when considering about 41 million kids go door-to-door.

Fortunately, eco-conscious consumers can make these five simple changes to their celebration habits for a low-waste Halloween.

1. Thrift Shop Costumes

It's unlikely you'll wear a Halloween costume more than once — after all, what fun is it to dress up in the same outfit every year? However, they are the primary source of waste generation.

A 2019 study by U.K.-based environmental charity Hubbub and Fairyland Trust found that costumes account for 2,079 tons of plastic waste annually — 83% of which derive from oil-based materials. Most of this waste is landfilled, producing harmful methane gas emissions.

Rather than buying a cheap plastic-based costume from a Halloween store, consider making use of secondhand clothing. Find pieces that you can put together to create a costume, but can be worn separately as normal clothes. You may even have clothes in your closet already that will work.

2. DIY Halloween Decor

Halloween decorations are another culprit for seasonal waste. However, having a sustainable holiday doesn't mean sacrificing fun decor.

DIY Halloween decorations can make use of recycled materials and items you already have. Save empty food jars and paint them black or orange to serve as spooky candle holders. Draw pumpkins or spiders on old t-shirts and turn them into pillow cases — a great way to decorate your existing throw pillows rather than buying new ones that will only be used for one month.

Instead of buying disposable napkins or plates with seasonal prints, try painting or stenciling unique patterns and Halloween-themed designs on fabric napkins and placemats that you can reuse for parties each year.

3. Locally Grown Pumpkins

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. produces 40% of its pumpkins in only six states — California, Michigan, Indiana, Texas, Virginia and Illinois.

Unfortunately, transportation emissions cause one-fifth of the agricultural sector's total emissions. Most consumers know that purchasing locally grown produce is a much more sustainable alternative, helping to boost the local economy, support local farmers, reduce emissions and deliver a cleaner food source.

This Halloween, celebrate sustainably by purchasing local pumpkins. Visit farms or markets in your area instead of buying transported gourds from your grocery store.

4. Less Pumpkin Waste

In addition to buying locally grown pumpkins, make an effort to close the waste loop this Halloween.

Studies show that 1.3 billion pounds of pumpkins are landfilled after Halloween. Although this is merely a fraction of the annual 63.1 million tons of food waste in the U.S., decomposing pumpkins are significant methane producers.

There are plenty of ways to reduce your pumpkin waste for a more eco-friendly Halloween, including the following:

Use it to make baked goods
Freeze it to use during Thanksgiving
Add it to a compost bin

The Cleveland Clinic considers pumpkins a superfood for their high quantities of essential vitamins and minerals. Just one cup protects your eyesight by delivering over 200% of the daily recommendation of vitamin A. Pumpkins also contain carotenoids that fight free radicals and help prevent cancer.

5. Fair Trade Sweets

In addition to degrading forests for cocoa beans, sugar and palm oil, the world's biggest candy manufacturers source their cocoa from countries that allow child and enslaved person labor.

Nestle, Hershey's and Mars have made promises in the past to remove child labor from the supply chains — however, they've missed their deadlines three times and will likely do so again. This is substantial since over 2 million children in West Africa harvest two-thirds of the world's cocoa.

Skip traditional sweets this Halloween and hand out organic Fair Trade Certified candies instead. At least you can assure that products were ethically and sustainably produced and harvested.

Some brands even donate a portion of every purchased item. For example, Endangered Species Candy Bars have given $2.1 million for conservation efforts over the last four years.

A Sustainable Halloween Is Just As Fun

You won't compromise a good time by having a low-waste Halloween this year. In fact, you'll probably feel better knowing you're making eco-friendly choices that prevent waste and protect the environment. Make Halloween a bit less scary this year with these eco-friendly activities.

Scary Sustainable: How to Have a Low-Waste Halloween