Halloween is such a great time of year…we get to pretend to be someone, or someTHING else! It’s not, however, the greenest of holidays, especially of late. Millions of costumes made of synthetic fibers shipped all of the way from China are stocked in every store around town. They may set you back just $15 but the carbon footprint on those costumes is huge. So what are the alternatives?

Costumes

Get creative!

• Use items from around the house to make a costume.
• Visit thrift stores & consignment shops for used clothes and accessories to make the perfect ensemble.
• Borrow or trade costumes among friends.
• Paper maiche a mask!
• Want something new? Silk costumes are considered more eco-friendly than petroleum based polyester fibers.

Examples we’ve seen that worked great:

• The Chef: chef’s hat, apron, a mixing bowl & wooden spoon…toss some flour on your face for the full effect.
• Leftovers: perfect for someone that has a lot of used but clean aluminum foil leftover. Place all over body. Ta da! (Thanks to Baby Posh Garage for this idea!)
• “Just Out of the Shower”: a robe, slippers, and a towel around your hair.

Green Costume Ideas & Resources: 50 last minute costume ideas, green halloween costume ideas, Planet Green’s Halloween guide

Decorations

It’s harvest festival time, so let’s feature some of the great colors that nature has to offer!

• Use pumpkins, gourds and apples to decorate, and later cook them into delicious snacks, meals, and pies!
• Hang sheets as ghosts…think old school!
• Stuff jeans an a shirt with old plastic bags or newspaper to make a scarecrow
• Use recycled materials and recycle or reuse whatever you can after the big day is over.

Treats

Times they are a changin’. Don’t expect to see the same old candy that you received when growing up. There are many more eco-friendly options available now.

• Candy: organic candy bars and lollipops are sold at stores such as Whole Foods
• Toys: instead of junk food (even if it is organic), kids will enjoy things to play with. We’ve recently stumbled upon these soy-based crayon rocks. See more ideas at Green Halloween.

More Green Halloween Ideas

• Bring an extra bag along when trick or treating to pick up litter along the way. via: About.com
• Use  wind up or shakeable flashlights (you make the power) to guide you through your tricks and treats. via: Green Halloween

Though we might have trouble convincing some of our friends of this fact, vodka has many more uses than meets the eye.  The Daily Green has given us good reason to take a second look at vodka and some weird household uses, stating

Why would you want to do anything else with vodka but drink it? It is widely available, effective and less toxic than many of the chemical alternatives you might use for these tasks.

Some of our favorites:

Freshen up your clothes with a spritz of Smirnoff: spray some vodka on your clothes when your jeans are about to walk away on their own, but you aren’t ready to hit the laundromat yet!

Shine up that bathroom with some Absolut: pour some vodka on a cloth and rub it on your porcelain, chrome, and glass. Then spray it on the moldy caulking around your tub.

Other uses include treatment for poison ivy and jellyfish stings, insect killer & repellant, and even toothache relief (but no more excuses, just go see a dentist!!)

Of course, any vodka will do…not just brand names, though some say you’ll need 100 proof to get the job done. There is, however, a greener vodka. Organic vodkas are becoming more and more popular, and now there are dozens of brands to choose from.

via: The Daily Green

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