Sustainable Halloween Tips: Eco-Friendly Costumes

If you plan on embracing spooky season by dressing up for Halloween, here are some tips on how to reduce waste when creating and parting ways with your costume! Having a green Halloween is an opportunity to let creative energy flow and save money.  

Ways to be green this Halloween

1. Instead of purchasing mass-produced, low-quality costumes try these ideas:

Use what you have. Combine clothing, and recycled items you already have to create your own costume! You can also create DIY face paint or use make-up lying around the house.

Some of my favorite DIY costume ideas include:

• A jellyfish, fashioned out of an umbrella, ribbons, and LED string lights
• A bee, with DIY wings made out of reused cardboard, antennas made from a headband, and a black & yellow outfit

• A bat, with DIY wings made out of a broken black umbrella, and a classic black outfit

Swap or borrow. If you do not have the time or materials to create your own costume, you can reach out to a group of friends to swap or borrow already-loved costumes.

Rent. You can also rent a costume at a Halloween store or online. This ensures that the costume gets maximum use.

Buy second-hand. You can extend the life of items by purchasing components of your costume from thrift stores. Many thrift stores also have a costume section which you can browse. 

2. Instead of sending your costume to the landfill after Halloween, try these ideas:

Reuse. Clothing items can be incorporated back into your outfits year-round. You can save costumes for future dress-up opportunities. When I was young, I wore the same dragon costume many years in a row, and loved it! You could also use aspects of your costume for an entirely new ensemble next year. Some easily reusable items include wigs, tiaras, and animal ear headbands.

Share. Let your friends and family know if you do not have use for costume items, and they may be interested in taking them off your hands.

Donate. Any quality items that you do not have use for can be donated to a local theater department, children's hospital, childcare dress-up play area, or thrift store. Be sure to call schools, hospitals, and daycare centers in advance to check if they have a need for the costume donation.

If you create a recycled Halloween costume this year, we would love to see!! Please email bethanie.davis@clark.wa.gov to share your sustainable & spooky photos!