Sustainable Halloween Ideas: Costumes, Activities, Treats & Décor

From mass-produced polyester costumes to plastic-wrapped candy and disposable decorations, Halloween can be a nightmare scarier than Friday The 13th. With more than 70% of Americans likely to celebrate, that adds up to mountains of plastic and food waste.

Making it an eco-friendly Halloween isn’t eek-ceptionally difficult. With a little creativity, you can cut down on waste, save money, and still enjoy all the spooky fun. This guide covers sustainable Halloween costumes, activities, eco-friendly Halloween decorations, and treats (with plenty of ideas for kids, adults, and even the whole community).

If you’d like to learn more about why making a few sustainable swaps is worth it this Halloween, jump to the end for some scary facts.

Secondhand Halloween Costume Finds

Ensuring you won’t be haunted by “ghosts of garments passed” every Halloween can be a little…tricky. Each year, as your child grows or your style changes, you’ll likely need a “new” Halloween costume. But it doesn’t have to be new new!

Thrifting is one of the best ways to keep costumes already in circulation on the racks and out of the trash —and save some money on those frightfully high price tags on new costumes. Visit local thrift shops or browse online thrift stores and you’ll often find entire costume sets (especially all the usual suspects like superheroes, princesses, and witches) for a fraction of the cost (and environmental impact).

DIY Eco-Friendly Costumes

Clever, comical, creative and one-of-a-kind costumes are often the most memorable — and the most sustainable. Repurpose what you already own or grab some cardboard, fabric scraps, and craft supplies to create something unique.

A few fun DIY Halloween costume ideas:

• Classic Ghost: An old sheet and a pair of scissors is all you need for this one!
• Crayon Box: Dress in a solid-colored outfit and create a “crayon box” by attaching colorful paper to the front of your clothing. Use a strip of black paper or fabric as the crayon label.
• Cereal Killer: Attach empty cereal boxes to your clothing, and add fake knives or utensils.
• Paper Doll: Dress in all white and attach paper cutouts or drawings of clothing to your outfit, just like paper dolls. You can change your costume by swapping out different paper outfits throughout the night.
• Piñata: Create a piñata costume by decorating an old dress or outfit with colorful crepe paper strips (ideally recycled ones!). Add a small basket or cardboard box as a “candy pocket” to collect treats.

If you need more inspiration, Pinterest has tons of DIY Halloween costume guides packed with easy, low-waste ideas.

Costume Swaps & Sharing

Why buy new when you can swap? Costume swaps are a sustainable and budget-friendly way to keep kids (and adults) excited year after year.

Gather friends, families from school, or your neighborhood community a few weeks before Halloween and trade outgrown or unused costumes. You’ll reduce waste, save money, and add a festive social element to the season.

Pro tip: Combine a swap with a Halloween craft afternoon or party with some simple spooky snacks (see more on this below)! It will make finding a new costume even more fun.

If you’re not into the social side of Halloween, tap into your local Buy Nothing Group (you can also search for your local on Facebook). Use this incredibly handy resource to find (and swap) all sorts of secondhand things for free.

At-Home Parties & Games

Why not turn a costume swap into a full-blown party? Invite friends and neighbors, trade old costumes, and keep the celebration going with low-waste snacks and eco-friendly Halloween games.

Kids can craft mummy jars, ghost pencils, or bat bookmarks while adults mingle over homemade pumpkin treats or an organic witches’ brew (by which we mean organic beer). You don’t need plastic tableware because thrifted glassware and plates do the trick. What’s a bit of washing! (We have a party kit with reusable plastic plates for parties which works a treat and the clean up is really not that much of an effort).

If you’ve got little ones, keep it simple with games like bobbing for apples, pumpkin bowling (use empty cans as pins), or a Halloween scavenger hunt in the backyard. These kinds of sustainable Halloween activities create such fun memories (and don’t involve much waste).

Crafts & Decorations

Decorations don’t have to come in plastic bags from big-box stores. Instead, make them part of the fun. Crafting your own décor is one of the easiest ways to reduce waste. And kids love getting involved.

There’s no shortage of lower-waste yet no less fun choices that can also become a hands-on activity your kids will remember (and look forward to) for years. Here are a few eco-friendly Halloween decoration ideas:

• Natural displays using straw bales, pumpkins, and autumn leaves (all compostable afterward): Purchase a few straw bales from your local farmer as a backdrop for your Halloween display. After Halloween, these bales can be dispersed in your garden as mulch or composted.
• Scarecrow: Stop by the thrift store and have your children pick out clothes, silly hats, and buttons for their scarecrows.
• Recycled paper ghosts: Salvage some old newspaper or tissue paper from your recycle bin to create some sustainably spooky ghouls.
• Upcycled pumpkin lanterns: Use old glass jars or tin cans to create spooky lanterns. Paint or decorate them with Halloween themes and place tea lights or LED candles inside.
• Egg carton bats: Cut and paint egg cartons to resemble bats. Hang them from strings or attach them to walls for a creepy effect.
• Cardboard tombstones: Cut tombstone shapes out of cardboard boxes, paint them to look weathered, and add spooky epitaphs. Place them in your yard as graveyard decorations.
• Cereal box masks: Use old cereal boxes to make masks. Cut out eye and mouth holes, and paint or decorate them to resemble your favorite Halloween characters.

For more ideas, check out this DIY Halloween decorations guide. Many can be made with materials you already have at home.

Eco-friendly Halloween Outdoor Activities (Pumpkin Patches, Corn Mazes, Farmer’s Markets)

Halloween isn’t just about candy. Outdoor activities like visiting a pumpkin patch or corn maze are a scream for all ages. Not only do they provide a more sustainable source for your Jack-o’-lanterns (vs big-box stores), but many local farms also sell seasonal goods like beeswax candles, roasted pumpkin seeds, or handmade gifts that are perfect for eco-friendly Halloween treat bags.

Farmer’s markets are another great option. Grab local pumpkins, gourds, and dried corn for natural décor, and let kids enjoy seasonal face painting or apple cider. Supporting local farms keeps money in your community while cutting down on food miles. Who knows, you might just find a better place to shop for fruit and veg.

If you grow your own pumpkins or gourds, that’s even better! Harvest them, carve them, and compost them afterward (see more on this below).

Sustainable Pumpkin Carving

Carving pumpkins is one of the most beloved Halloween traditions but it can also be one of the most wasteful. The good news? You can make pumpkin carving more eco-friendly with a few simple swaps:

• Buy local (or grow your own): Support nearby farms or farmer’s markets for your pumpkins (see above). Better yet, grow them in your own garden.
• Use eco-friendly paint or markers: Use non-toxic markers and let kids draw the design before carving and limit what goes onto the pumpkin so you can compost or cook the pumpkin afterward without worry about paint or glitter.
• Save the insides: Roast the seeds for snacks, bake the flesh into pies or muffins, or use it in hearty soups.
• Compost when done: Check if your town offers pumpkin drop-offs, or compost it at home. Many farms will also accept pumpkins as animal feed.

Fun Pumpkin Carving Ideas

To keep things fresh (and fun for kids), try these creative twists:

• Silly faces: Mix up classic Jack-o’-lanterns with funny expressions or emoji-style faces.
• Stencils & patterns: Print or draw bats, cats, or cobwebs for an easy guide.
• Mini pumpkins: Paint or carve smaller pumpkins with simple designs for toddlers.
• Themed lanterns: Carve words like “BOO” or “TRICK OR TREAT” into multiple pumpkins and line them up on your porch.
• Alternative to carving: Instead of cutting, paint your pumpkin with natural, compost-safe paints or markers.

Pumpkin carving can be a sustainable Halloween activity when you think about the full life cycle from farm to fun to compost.

Sustainable Halloween Candy

Halloween without treats would be a fright. But the millions of pounds of candy sold in the U.S. each year creates a huge pile of plastic wrappers and, often, questionable sourcing. With so many safety concerns for kids these days, most parents prefer their children to get pre-packaged goodies when out and about on Mischief Night. Which we get from a parenting perspective—but from a planetary one, not so much.

If you’re buying candy, look for sustainable candy brands using fair trade chocolate and more sustainable packaging. Brands like Tony’s Chocolonely, Alter Eco, Equal Exchange, Unreal Candy, and YumEarth offer some excellent (and tasty) options. Some companies now use recyclable cardboard boxes, compostable wrappers, or foil instead of plastic.

Alternatively, classic candies like Milk Duds, Nerds, Smarties, and Junior Mints come in cardboard packaging or foil-wrapping like Hershey’s Kisses. Unfortunately, it’s still difficult to get around the bulk plastic bag they come in.

If you’re just making treats for a smaller group of kids whose parents you know, avoid plastic wrappers with options like buying bulk (in reusable glass jars) and filling your own brown paper treat bags (more on this idea below).

Homemade & Eco-friendly Halloween Treats

Skip the plastic altogether by making your own goodies. Kids love the novelty of homemade snacks, and you control the ingredients. If you’re only serving at home or a small party, these are a perfect swap for mass-produced candy.

Some fun eco-friendly Halloween treats to try:

• Pumpkin Spice Muffins: Use locally sourced pumpkins and organic ingredients for a delicious treat.
• Spiderweb Cupcakes: Decorate cupcakes with eco-friendly black food coloring and a spiderweb design using organic frosting.
• Monster Rice Krispie Treats: Create fun and colorful monsters using Rice Krispie treats made with organic rice cereal and natural food coloring.
• Caramel Apples: Use organic apples and make your own caramel using sustainable sweeteners like maple syrup or coconut sugar.
• Mummy Pizzas: Make mini mummy pizzas using whole wheat dough, organic tomato sauce, and mozzarella cheese strips for bandages.
• Veggie trays: Turned spooky with olive “eyes” or ghost-shaped bananas.
• Ghost cupcakes: Decorated with fluffy white frosting and little eyes.

Ideally use fair trade, and ethically sourced ingredients from sustainable food brands in your Halloween baking.

Healthier & Non-Candy Alternatives

For trick-or-treaters, candy doesn’t have to be the only option. Parents often welcome healthier or non-food handouts, especially for younger kids. A few ideas:

• Mini packs of raisins, pretzels, or trail mix.
• Seed packets for planting in spring.
• Halloween pencils, crayons, or small puzzles.
• Stickers or temporary tattoos (though these can still create waste).

These little extras are low-cost, waste-light, and last beyond the holiday.

Eco-friendly Trick-or-Treat Bags & Wrappers

Finally, think about what the candy goes into. Instead of flimsy single-use bags, kids can carry:

• Reusable fabric totes.
• Pillowcases (a nostalgic zero-waste favorite).
• Buckets or baskets already at home.

If you’re looking at your child’s plastic pumpkin bag and grimacing, keep in mind that even though it’s not made of a sustainable material, the most sustainable choice you can make is still to keep it in circulation for as long as possible.

DIY Sustainable Candy Packaging For Halloween

Making your DIY eco-friendly Halloween goodies is the holy grail of sustainable trick-or-treating—but it’s not always the most practical or widely embraced option. Sure, crafting your own delicious cheap Halloween candy confections from scratch allows you to control the ingredients and packaging, reducing waste and the carbon impact. But typically there’s the concern of homemade treats not being well-received due to safety concerns, which can haunt even the most well-intentioned eco-conscious Halloween enthusiast.

However, if you live in a mindful community where it might be acceptable to do so, try buying candy in bulk sans plastic (your local grocery store probably has bulk bins) and assembling your own sustainable candy wrappers. Channel your inner Halloween decorator and wrap them up in kraft paper, and tie the top together with compostable string or twine.

These charming little bundles of joy not only look spooktacular but also allow you to customize each treat pack with a personal touch.

Halloween may be fun, but it’s also frightening for the natural environment and ultimately, our own health. Every year, millions of pumpkins end up in landfills, where they release methane as they decompose. In the UK alone, 22.2 million pumpkins are thrown out post-Halloween and in the US, the number is even higher.

And pumpkins are just part of the problem. The ~$3.5 billion spent on candy in the U.S. generates mountains of plastic wrappers that can’t be recycled. Add to that the mass production of single-use costumes, plastic décor, and party supplies, and it’s clear: Halloween has a waste problem.

So how can we celebrate Halloween sustainably? Small swaps — like reusing costumes, making DIY decorations, and composting pumpkins — add up to a big impact. A more eco-friendly Halloween means less waste, fewer emissions, and a holiday that’s better for both kids and the climate.

What is a sustainable Halloween?
It’s a celebration where costumes, treats, and decorations are chosen to reduce waste, avoid harmful plastics and toxins, and support ethical or local businesses.

How can I make Halloween more eco-friendly for kids?
Choose secondhand or DIY costumes, reusable trick-or-treat bags, and organic or ethically sourced treats. Activities like pumpkin carving, crafts, and trips to local farms are fun, low-impact alternatives.

What are some eco-friendly Halloween treats?
Fair trade chocolate, compostable-wrapped candies, and organic snack packs are great options. Homemade goodies like pumpkin muffins, ghost cupcakes, or veggie platters can also make Halloween sustainable and delicious.

How do I decorate for Halloween sustainably?
Repurpose what you already own, craft decorations from recycled or natural materials, and avoid plastic décor. Pumpkins, hay bales, and autumn leaves make compostable displays that are festive and waste-free.

What can I do with pumpkins after Halloween?
Compost them, roast the seeds for snacks, or use the flesh in soups and pies. Many farms also accept unpainted pumpkins as animal feed — just avoid glitter or toxic paint so they’re safe to reuse.

Final Thoughts

Trick or treating can be fun and planet friendly, by removing plastic waste from your treat bags, crafting eco-friendly Halloween decorations, and sporting thrifted costumes on the dark night. Don’t let this long list scare you off. By adopting just a few of these eco-friendly Halloween ideas will take you one dragging, zombie step closer to enjoying a more green Halloween.

Please share these sustainable Halloween ideas to inspire everyone to celebrate responsibly this Halloween—because even the tiniest ghost or goblin can make a big difference.

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in October 2023. It has had minor updates since then, and was fully updated in September 2025 with new sections, fresh ideas, and additional resources.