As Halloween fast approaches, the excitement surrounding Halloween often overshadows the significant environmental and financial implications that come with it.
Ranging from costumes to yummy sweets and social expectations, this celebration may feel more like a costly affair than a joyful celebration.
Once Halloween is over, many costumes are discarded or stored away, often never to be worn again and this not only represents a loss of money but also contributes to negative environmental sustainability, as discarded outfits contribute to landfill waste.
Many consumers are beginning to advocate for more sustainable practices, such as swapping costumes or creating DIY outfits from second-hand materials or selling them on second-hand clothing sites such as Vinted.
Additionally, it is not only the costumes that create problems for the environment, but also the unbelievable number of sweets and chocolates exchanged causing plastic wrappers to be littered around streets by those celebrating Halloween, unaware they are contributing to this environmental crisis.
Mac Mckenna, a local Wimbledon resident had this to say,
“Last Halloween I spent the night clearing away plastic sweet wrappers left behind by children who were too young to realise the environmental mess they were causing.”
Ultimately, Halloween today is primarily a retail event, with businesses capitalising on this event to boost sales.
This includes dramatically raising prices of sweets and Halloween themed foods, as well as spooky decorations, creating large profit for businesses who are inadvertently causing this environmental waste.
While traditions like pumpkin carving and trick-or-treating remain enjoyable, the emphasis on consumerism often diverts from the original meaning of the holiday.
Children often expect elaborate celebrations, from themed parties to intricate costumes, which can further strain family budgets.
This expectation can lead to feelings of inequality for those unable to keep up, transforming what should be a joyous occasion into a stressful financial burden.
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