With the scariest day of the year just around the corner (no, we don’t mean the Brexit deadline), new research has revealed shocking levels of plastic waste are expected to be generated from Halloween costumes this year.
From vampire fangs to blood-stained bedsheets, it’s no secret that Halloween celebrations have a plastic-waste problem – but new research estimates that 2,000 tonnes of plastic waste will be generated this Halloween from clothing and costumes alone, a level of waste equivalent to 83 million Coca-Cola bottles.
Supported by Hubbub, the Fairyland Trust investigated 19 retailers including ASOS, Boohoo, Marks and Spencer and Wilko and found that of the 324 material items examined, 83% were made of oil-based plastic. The report calls on retailers to better label products of this type, as many shoppers in a hurry to grab a costume on the go aren’t necessarily aware that materials like polyester are plastic – and with polyester being the most common plastic poylmer found in the clothing sampled (69%), more consistent labelling is urgently needed to better inform consumers.
In 2017, Hubbub found that 40% of Halloween costumes are only worn once and so are likely to end up in landfill. To be more planet-friendly, trying upcycling an item you already own, or borrow pieces from friends and family that can be easily accessorised to suit a spooky theme.