A Spooky, Sustainable Halloween with the Sustainability Stewards

NC State’s Sustainability Stewards recently hosted Spooky Stitches, a campus event that inspired students to plan Halloween costumes that don’t result in extra waste to landfills. Try these easy tips from the Sustainability Stewards to make your Halloween both spooky and sustainable.

1. Start in Your Closet

Instead of buying new, explore what you already have. Evie Dallmann, a senior studying anthropology, suggests making something “ludacris and chaotic created from your closet” and when asked by people what you are, say, “It’s Halloween!”.

2. Mix and Match

Reuse pieces from past costumes to create something new. “Mix and match different costume pieces to form new costumes,” suggests Brynn Capuano, an agroecology and sustainable food systems senior. “This works well if you need multiple costumes or if you want to reuse items from last year without being the same thing.”

3. Source Secondhand

Need extra pieces? Thrift shops or swap events are great options. “Halloween isn’t always about buying a new costume,” says biological engineering student Jameson Hill. “Thrifting and/or DIYing your own can also be fun and a great way to be sustainably responsible during Halloween.”

4. Get Creative with Accessories

If you have a base piece, like a jumpsuit, change accessories to switch up your look. Cate Hawting, an environmental sciences major, suggests borrowing something from friends. “Whether it’s a particular accessory or a certain color garment, chances are someone you know owns something similar.”

5.  Host a Costume Swap and Workshop Party

Dallmann suggests gathering friends for a costume swap before Halloween or even attending a workshop like Spooky Stitches to “foster creativity and community” with the help of others. This makes every Halloween feel new without the need to buy more.

The Sustainability Stewards note that celebrating a sustainable Halloween goes beyond your spooky stitches costumes. For example, you can toss your pumpkin scraps in campus compost bins. Put these tips into action to craft your own creative and conscious Halloween that’s both memorable and sustainable.