Creative Zero Waste Halloween Costume Ideas

Halloween is a time of spooky thrills, sweet treats, and elaborate costumes, but it can also be surprisingly wasteful. Each year, 35 million Halloween costumes are thrown away in American households, and the US alone produces approximately 5.4 million kilograms of textile waste from Halloween costumes. 

Other spooky stats:

• Not only that, 1 billion pounds of pumpkins are sent to the landfill each year 
• Single-use plastic decorations and non-recyclable plastic costumes account for an estimated 2000 tons of waste. 

These statistics are scary, and hard to think that one holiday can generate these types of numbers. 

Why a Zero Waste Halloween Matters

The environmental impact of Halloween can be surprisingly significant. According to the National Retail Federation’s annual Halloween survey, Halloween spending in 2023 was estimated to reach a record $12.2 billion, exceeding the prior year’s record of $10.6 billion. Much of this spending is towards disposable costumes, decoration, and single-pack candies, which contribute immensely to landfill waste once the single-day holiday is over. 

There are many ways you can participate in a more eco-friendly Halloween from the decorations you use, to the candy you buy and share, and to how you dispose of items post-Halloween. We cover a lot of these ideas in our blog post: 5 Ways To Create A Zero Waste Halloween.

DIY Eco-Friendly Costume Ideas

This year, why not turn the tide and celebrate with a zero waste or low waste costume? Not only will you make a unique statement with your creative costume, but you will also contribute to a more sustainable holiday and set the tone for others interested in doing the same.

Here are some inventive and eco-friendly costume ideas that will make you the star of any Halloween trick-or-treating while keeping waste to a minimum.

1. Superhero Cape from Old Sheets or Fabric
   Channel your inner superhero with a cape that is both mighty & eco-friendly. Instead of buying new fabric, or a plastic cape, repurpose an old sheet or scrap fabric that you already have at home! Simply cut the fabric into a cape shape and use fabric markers or paint to add your own superhero emblem, then secure it with a belt or tie. Use scraps from those cuttings to make masks, gloves, and more to complete the look! 
   
   
2. DIY Mummy
   Wrap yourself up as a spooky mummy using old white clothing. Gather some old shirts, pants, sheets or even fabric scraps to wrap around yourself. Secure with safety pins as you go. When you’re done, recycle the clothes and textiles with a Textile Recycling Bag.
   
   
3. Foil and Cardboard Robot
   Bring a touch of retro robotics to your Halloween as a robot! Using cardboard boxes to form the robot’s body and lining it with aluminum foil to add the shine, you can create an easy costume that can be recycled at the end of the night. Plus, you can use other small items like bottle caps and straws for buttons and controls.
   
   
4. Nature Fairy
   Embrace the magic of autumn with a nature-inspired fairy costume utilizing fallen leaves, twigs, and flowers to create a whimsical look. Attach leaves to an old dress or tunic using fabric glue or sewing them on, then use the twigs to create a crown or wand. Add some eco friendly glitter for a touch of whimsical & magic.
   
   
5. Classic Ghost
   Transform into a classic ghost figure with an old white sheet! Cut out the eye holes, and you’re done! This is simple, easy to make, and perfect for a zero waste Halloween. Plus, it’s a great way to repurpose an old sheet and can be passed down to be used year after year.
   
   
6. Tie Dye Tiger
   Using an old white t-shirt and shorts or pants, change into a majestic tiger by tie-dyeing the pieces orange and black in a stripe effect. Using face paint, decorate your face, arms and legs with additional stripes for a full-blown effect.

Secondhand Costume Resources

An alternative to a DIY costume is exploring secondhand costumes! Many costumes are purchased and only worn once before they’re tossed aside, making secondhand options both budget-friendly and environmentally conscious. If you are looking to secure a secondhand costume, here are some ideas of places to look:

1. Friends and Family
   Often people in your own community have a costume that they are willing to loan out. Friends and family often have costumes stashed away from past celebrations that they’re more than happy to lend out and see another use out of it. Hosting a costume swap party within your community is also a great and fun way to gather everyone’s unwanted costumes, allowing everyone to explore a new costume idea without spending a dime. Make sure to ask around!
   
   
2. Facebook Marketplace
   Facebook’s secondhand marketplace has a wonderful selection of secondhand costumes and is a great way to find a new-to-you costume at reasonable prices. Simply search and filter the results accordingly to what you’re looking for! 
   
   
3. Buy Nothing
   The Buy Nothing community is all about sharing resources at no cost. By joining a local Buy Nothing group on Facebook, or via the Buy Nothing app, you can put an “ask” out to your local group and connect with neighbors who might just have what you’re looking for. 
   
   
4. Local Thrift Stores/Vintage Stores
   Keep your dollars local by visiting your local thrift and vintage stores. You can piece together your own outfit or get lucky finding a curated costume. Many thrift shops will save up their Halloween donations to put out during this season, so you are guaranteed to find a great selection to choose from! 

A little goes a long way — and as Anne Marie Bonneau says, “We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.”

By incorporating even one of these costume ideas, or the other Zero Waste Halloween tips, you can make a big difference in helping lessen our impact on the planet. 

Happy trick or treating! 

Sources:

• https://hummingbirdinternational.net/facts-about-halloween-waste/#:~:text=35%20million%20Halloween%20costumes%20are,waste%2C%20up%20to%2030%25.
• https://nrf.com/research-insights/holiday-data-and-trends/halloween