By: Samantha Page

I set out to write a “Green Your Halloween” article for this month’s newsletter, but while researching, I came across a phenomenal resource that does the job far better than I could: Your Guide to a Zero-Waste & Plastic-Free Halloween from The Story of Stuff Project. Rather than reinventing the wheel, I decided it was worth sharing this guide and introducing readers to the organization behind it.

Halloween is a wonderful excuse to get creative, but it can also generate a surprising amount of waste. Think individually wrapped candy, single-use decorations, disposable party supplies, and costumes worn just once before being tossed aside. The good news is that celebrating more sustainably doesn’t mean giving up the traditions we love. It can mean swapping costumes with friends, decorating with natural or reusable materials, composting pumpkins, and rethinking some of our usual holiday habits. The Story of Stuff’s guide offers practical ideas for keeping the spooky fun while sending less stuff to the landfill.

If you care about overconsumption and the environmental impact of our throwaway culture, The Story of Stuff Project is an organization worth knowing. Its work explores the often-hidden consequences of the things we buy, use, and discard, connecting our everyday choices to larger environmental and social issues. The project began with the now-classic animated film The Story of Stuff, which helped countless viewers rethink our take-make-waste economy and question the idea that more consumption always means a better life.

Since then, The Story of Stuff has grown into a broader movement using storytelling, education, and grassroots campaigns to challenge wasteful systems and promote a more sustainable future. Its current work includes advocating for reuse, reducing plastic pollution, and encouraging solutions that move us away from our dependence on disposable products. It’s a valuable reminder that addressing environmental problems isn’t just about making better individual choices; it’s also about changing the systems that make waste and overconsumption seem normal.

So, before buying another set of decorations or a brand-new costume this Halloween, take a few minutes to explore the guide and see what ideas might work for your family. And if you haven’t watched The Story of Stuff, it’s well worth adding to your viewing list. Sometimes a fresh perspective on the things we take for granted is the first step toward changing how we live—and creating less waste long after the jack-o’-lanterns have been put away.