When it comes to halloween, between the candy, decorations and costumes, sustainability isn’t always top of mind.
A study conducted by Hubbub in 2019 estimated that over 2,000 tonnes of plastic waste would be generated in the UK from costumes alone that year- that’s about the same as 83 million Coke bottles!
But it is possible to do Halloween sustainably… and it all starts with sustainable halloween costumes!
Below are some alternatives to buying conventional costumes and 5 specific sustainable halloween costumes that’ll make this year your most sustainable halloween yet!
Make Your Own Halloween Costume
As I’ve mentioned in other posts, the most sustainable clothing pieces are the ones you already have- so why shouldn’t this apply to Halloween?
While you can always re-wear a costume from previous years, why not try getting creative and making your own?
Here are some sustainable halloween costumes you can make using what you already own:
Holly Golightly from Breakfast at Tiffany’s
To recreate this iconic look from Breakfast at Tiffany’s you’ll need:
- A black, sleeveless dress
- Black sunglasses
- Long black gloves
- A pearl necklace
- A tiara
Don’t have everything you need to complete this look?
Here are some eco-friendly options to complete the costume.
Elle Woods
Here’s your chance to put all of your pink coloured clothing to good use. 😉
To recreate Elle’s outfit you’ll need:
- A hot pink dress
- A light pink belt
- Pink heels
- A pink purse
Don’t have everything you need to complete this look?
Here are some eco-friendly options to complete the costume.
Sandy from Grease
To recreate Sandy’s look you’ll need:
- A black leather jacket
- An off-the-shoulder crop top
- A black belt
- Leather pants
- Red heels
Don’t have everything you need to complete this look?
Here are some eco-friendly options to complete the costume.
Sabrina Spellman
To recreate Sabrina’s outfit, you’ll need:
- A black headband
- A red turtleneck
- A plaid mini skirt
- A red bag
- Black shoes
Don’t have everything you need to complete this look?
Here are some eco-friendly options to complete the costume.
Wednesday Addams
To recreate Wednesday’s outfit, you’ll need:
- A black Dress with white collar
- Black Shoes
Don’t have everything you need to complete this look?
Here are some eco-friendly options to complete the costume.
Buy Your Halloween Costume Secondhand
Don’t want to make your own costume?
No problem!
You can still have a sustainable halloween costume by purchasing secondhand instead of new.
Etsy has a lot of great options to check out, like these:
Other Ways to Source Sustainable Halloween Costumes
Rent Your Halloween Costume
Renting instead of buying is great if you don’t want to wear a costume more than once, but don’t want to buy a new one each year.
While the number of shops offering costume rentals is currently limited, here are a few good options:
Swap Costumes With Friends and Family
Why not make it a Halloween tradition to swap costumes from years past with friends and family?
Increasing the number of wears of your costumes is the easiest way to make the costumes you currently own more sustainable.
Do you have any go-to sustainable halloween costumes or know of any sustainable halloween costume retailers?
Let me know in the comments below!
Until next time,
