Host or join a costume swap
Why This is Green
Some people are DIY gifted, whipping together unfathomably excellent Halloween costumes out of items lying around the house year after year. If you’re not similarly talented, can’t use a sewing machine, don’t have time, or just don’t care, store bought costumes are a delight. But buying a costume your kid wears once then tosses is a waste of resources--which ones depend on what the costume is made of. Plastic is petroleum-derived, and the manufacture of fabrics—synthetic or natural—is energy and water intensive. Growing conventional cotton involves a lot of pesticides. Factor in the transportation of the finished and packaged product and the carbon footprint of a cute witch can really add up.
To extend the life of the get ups you own, and save resources by dressing up in a (gently) used costume, organize a swap. It can be as simple as getting together with a few neighbors or as large as a school or even citywide event. You’ll spread the message about reuse in your community and all involved will save cash, too. You will also reduce the number of costumes sent yearly to landfills.
Learn More
How To
Choose who you want to include in your swap—a local parents’ group or maybe the PTA. Find a place to host the swap. Then get going.
Reused isn’t automatically safe. Avoid vinyl or soft plastic masks and outfits; these can contain lead and chemicals that aren’t great for kids to be wearing.
To register your swap, get how-tos and to find a swap near you, go to National Costume Swap Day.
Recommended Products
- Costume Swap
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