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Have a green Halloween
By Keana Okuda
Wednesday, October 8, 2008 2:27 PM HST
It may seem a little early to start thinking about trick-or-treating but you need only walk into your local grocery and retail stores to see that October is here and that Halloween is already in full swing. Consumers are expected to spend billions of dollars on candy, costumes, decorations and other tricks and treats this year. What all that amounts to, though, is a big pile of crumpled wrappers, disposable party props and plastic costume parts. With that being said, think of the impact we could make if just a small percentage of us committed to a greener Halloween. Have fun while you take care of the planet and let the bigwigs know you don't want their crap by choosing these green options this year.
1. Organic candy. Due to recent demand, there's a great selection of organic, fair trade and just-better-for-you treats out there. Try fair trade chocolate offered by Sweet Earth Organic Chocolates or organic berry-flavored lollipops by Candy Tree. Check availability at your local natural food stores or visit online shops SimonCandyShop.com, YummyEarth.com, PureFun.ca, and more.
2. Handmade costumes.Store-bought costumes often contain carcinogens and reproductive toxins like pthalates, lead and cadmium. Avoid costumes made of or packaged in PVC or vinyl. Most are made so cheaply anyway that by the end of the night your little princess may look like she's ready to join Cinderella scrubbing floors. Get creative and make your own costume or buy one from a second-hand store. Sites like Etsy.com are a great source for handmade costumes if you don't have the time to make one yourself. If you can't see wearing that same costume next year or if your children will grow out of theirs by then, give them to a friend or donate them to a thrift store or charity.
3. Make your own face paint. Beware, face paint that you buy from the stores is derived from petroleum and may contain parabens, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), formaldehyde, lead and other potential and probable cancer-causing ingredients. The web is full of non-toxic, homemade face paint and Halloween make-up solutions. (Note that many of the DIY recipes you will find call for questionable ingredients, so substitute for greener options where you can.) Ready-made, non-toxic face paints such as Lyra Face Paint Pencils are less involved but still a more child- and planet-friendly choice.
4. Reusable trick-or-treat bags. Forget the cliche plastic jack-o-lantern heads and reach for something a little more chic. There are lots of reusable totes and baskets out there for you to purchase. For a great selection of the handmade variety, search "treat tote" at Etsy.com. Reusable trick-or-treat bags are also much more durable than regular plastic, which means they will keep your goodies safe while they help you protect the environment.
5. Eco-powered flashlights. Rechargeable batteries are easy to find and cost effective. Other great ways to light the way on your Halloween adventures are crank and solar-powered lights. Check out products from Solareagle, SunNight Solar and Choose Renewables. You can also find a variety of crank, shake and solar-powered flashlights at 21st-Century-Goods.com.
6. Walk, don't drive. We all know the best subdivisions for trick-or-treating success but the less you drive, the better. If you have to drive, try to carpool. Also, when your little candy bags are full, call it quits. Only take what you need or will eat.
7. Mood lighting. Take advantage of this dark holiday. Pull out some candles or a string of energy-efficient pumpkin lights. If you have a driveway, consider lining it with portable solar lights, which can be found at many home and garden stores these days.
8. Carve local pumpkins.-Most pumpkins you see in grocery stores around this time have already traveled thousands of miles, resulting in the release of excess CO2 and a harmful contribution to climate change. This year, search for the jack-o-lantern-worthy pumpkin that was grown closest to home. If you can't find any, maybe consider planting one for use next year. Apple season is also at its best during Halloween, so if you are bobbing for apples, be sure to buy those locally too.
9. Host your own green Halloween party. There's no better way to spread the excitement of the holiday and share your green know-how with friends and family. Start with paper-saving e-mail invites and decorations that you can use year after year, much as you would Christmas ornaments. Avoid paper party goods and disposable cups and utensils. Serve organic and local food, drinks and treats. Have fun with organic apple bobbing and more. Be creative and think of clever ways to showcase your eco-friendly Halloween initiatives.
10. Reverse trick-or-treating. Global Exchange has organized a Reverse Trick-or-Treating program as a way to spread awareness of the cocoa farmers' plight and showcase the benefits of Fair Trade, as reported on Treehugger.com. Despite promises from major chocolate manufacturers to improve these conditions, children are still forced into labor and cocoa farmers still suffer from poverty due to the minimal dollar offered for their crop. Sign up through the reverse trick-or-treating website (http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/fairtrade/cocoa/reversetrickortreating/) to get your free fair trade chocolate samples and program cards.
On Halloween, encourage your children to participate by handing these chocolate samples and information cards to the adults when they go to the door. (Allow them to munch on the extras.) Or, trick-or-treat for UNICEF (See http://youth.unicefusa.org/trickortreat/ for information.). It is a selfless way to give to other children in need while your little ones still get to dress in costume and parade around the streets.
The site GreenHalloween.org is dedicated to the movement and has more ideas on ways to green your ghostly celebration.
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SaraLitke wrote on Nov 17, 2008 10:21 AM:
For those who are looking for Fair Trade certified trick or treating candy to hand out from your doorstep, it is available at Global Exchange http://www.globalexchangestore.org/, Equal Exchange http://www.equalexchange.coop/, Divine http://www.divinechocolate.com/home/default.aspx, and Sweet Earth organics http://www.sweetearthchocolates.com/. "