Halloween costumes give all of us a chance to be someone or something else. But this spooky holiday leaves its mark on the planet. Most costumes are treated as disposable, which means they end up in the trash when the partying and trick or treating are over. Commercial costumes (and decorations) can be expensive, too. All together, we Americans spend over $5 billion annually for this one-day celebration.

Here are some greener options that will save you money, too.

Thrift Stores – For the smartest, greenest option, go to your local thrift store, where you can find used Halloween costumes at a discount. In fact, thrift store shopping is so popular for Halloween that places sell out their stock long before October 31 rolls around. Even if you don’t find a pre-fab costume, once you’re shopping, look for accessories like hats, coats, scarves, boots, purses, sports equipment, jewelry, gloves and anything else that’s fun, funky, goofy or gory.

Attics and Closets – Find old sheets, clothes that haven’t made it to a yard sale yet, lampshades, purses or briefcases you no longer use, old toys, old scout uniforms …use your imagination!

Make Your Own Out of Organic Fabric – Decorate or dye this organic cotton fleece and hemp to your ghoulish heart’s desire.

Use Recycled Cardboard and Paper – Appliance boxes, like those that a refrigerator or washing machine are delivered in, can be turned into monsters (think Frankenstein), a walking smart phone, a house, a car, a rhinoceros…

National Costume Swap Day offers another money-saving and eco-friendly alternative. Instead of buying something new, swap with someone who has a costume in good shape that they no longer want or need. You can find an “official” costume swap here. Or set up one in your neighborhood yourself. The folks at EcoMom Alliance and Green Halloween have pulled together this How to Host a Costume Swap checklist to make it easy-peasy to swap with neighbors, family and friends.

Green Halloween Costume Swap, powered by TradePal – TradePal is an online marketplace that makes it easy for college students to barter, trade and sell stuff they have for stuff they want. TradePal is partnering with the organizers of Campus Sustainability Day to make it easy for students to swap the masks, costumes, and wigs they already have for the ones they want.

Other ideas? Please share your suggestions in the comments below.

And for more green Halloween ideas, don’t miss:

A Green and Cheap Halloween: Top Ten Tips

Make Your Own “Green” Halloween Face Paint

Organic Halloween Candy Tastes Good, Too!

Green Halloween Decorations You Can Reuse and Recycle 

Need organic Halloween candy, reusable candy bags, and help in carving the perfect pumpkin? Please drop by our curated Amazon store. (We earn a very small commission on store purchases that helps pay for Big Green Purse to keep bringing you useful information.)

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Read the Label Before You Buy

The good news is, organic Halloween candy is easy to find, and not just online. Increasingly, neighborhood grocery stores, chains like Whole Foods, and food coops are carrying it, too. Here’s what to look for when you go shopping. The key thing is to read the ingredients label and look for certifications that back up a company’s product claims.

YES

  Organic Certification – The USDA organic seal indicates that the ingredients were produced according to federal organic guidelines.

Real Fruit Juice – Juice made from apples, cherries, lemons, grapes and other fruits is often used to produce hard candy.

Natural Ingredients – These may include real licorice, organic cocoa, organic milk, and herbs like mint (as opposed to ingredient “flavors,” which are synthetic chemicals. You might also find ginger extract, oil of wintergreen, currants, and beta carotene.

  Non-GMO – The non-GMO label indicates ingredients that were produced from crops that were not grown from genetically-modified organisms (GMO

NO

High Fructose Corn Syrup or Artificial Sweeteners – Look for candy sweetened with cane sugar, molasses, honey, stevia or sweet fruits like oranges, grapes and apples.

Artificial Food Coloring and Dye – Rather than Red Dye #40, or another color with a number after it, look for ingredients like beets, carrots, currants, oranges and lemons that impart their color.

Preservatives – Halloween candy is one of those things that people buy and eat right away. You certainly don’t need candy that is preserved to last into next year. Don’t buy more than you need, and you won’t need to worry about when it expires.

Organic Halloween Candy

 YumEarth Organic Lollipops – Buy a few bags of these “suckers” and you’ll be set for the night. In eight luscious flavors: Yumwatermelon, blueberry, sour apple, pomegranate, mango, grape, strawberry and cherry. Yum Earth also sells organic candy drops and gummy bears.

 Surf Sweets Sour Worms – In addition to being made with organic fruit juice and sweeteners, the company donates 1% of the sales of its products to several environmental organizations, including Climate Cycle, Healthy Child Healthy World, and EcoMom Alliance.

 Endangered Species Bug Bites – Choose from organic milk or dark chocolate Bug Bites and Chimp Mints.

  GoNaturally Organic Hard Candies – Available in honey lemon, cherry, pomegranate, and other flavors.

 ZOT Organic Licorice – Made in Italy from organically grown licorice plant root.

 UNREAL Candy Peanut Butter Cups – Though the ingredients aren’t organic, they are “real,” not artificial creations (so…real milk chocolate, caramel and nougat; no corn syrup, preservatives, GMOs, hydrogenated oils, or gluten.

Justin’s Organic Peanut Butter Cups – These are delicious, as well as organic, gluten-free and GMO-free. Available in dark, milk and white chocolate. Very addictive!! Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

  Clif Organic Chocolate Brownie Kid ZBars – Technically, these aren’t candy bars. But they can pass for a close second, and they don’t melt nearly as fast as a Kit Kat.

Franny’s Organic Select Raisins in snacksize boxes. I always include boxes of raisins in my Halloween “candy” offerings, even though most kids prefer actual candy. Maybe you’ll have more luck than I.

Alter-Eco Organic Black Truffles – They’re organic, Fair Trade, and delicious. You’ll find them in milk chocolate as well as dark.

WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED FOR HALLOWEEN?

Find non-toxic face paint, “eco” friendly trick-or-treat bags, decorations, pumpkin carving tools, and costumes in our store. Note: We earn a tiny commission on purchases, which helps us bring you expert content and product recommendations for free. Thanks.

RELATED GREEN HALLOWEEN POSTS

Top 10 Green Halloween Decorations

Halloween Costumes: Swap Before You Shop

Make Your Own Green Halloween Face Paint

A Green and Cheap Halloween: Top Ten Tips

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