13:09, 14 October 2025
Words by Cheyanne Bryan, Editorial and Campaign Marketing Executive, London
As autumn settles in and pumpkin patches fill up, it’s time to ask: does Halloween have to haunt the planet?
Between the 18,000 tonnes of edible pumpkin binned each year and roughly 2,000 tonnes of plastic waste from costumes and decorations, our love for spooky season is becoming a real horror show for the environment. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Charity WWF is urging us to swap out the throwaway habits and carve a more sustainable path this October – and honestly, it sounds like a treat.
Their A Prescription for Nature campaign encourages everyone to get a daily dose of nature, with just 20 minutes being able to boost mood and ease stress.
Instead of tossing your pumpkin post‑carving, why not roast it into a rich autumnal soup or whip up some spiced muffins? Decorating the outside with edible glitter or non‑toxic paints keeps it intact – and delicious. You’ll find plenty of seasonal recipe inspiration in Riverford’s autumn collection.
Ditch the plastic bats and synthetic spiderwebs, and dive into nature’s craft box. Forage (ethically, of course) for pinecones, sticks, and colourful leaves to create spiderwebs, creepy pinecone critters, and autumn wreaths. It’s an easy way to get your daily dose of fresh air – which the Prescription for Nature campaign is all about.
Costumes don’t need to cost the Earth either. Skip the supermarket plastic and get thrifty with preloved fabrics, charity shop finds, or even your garden. A few old sheets, some ivy, and a bit of imagination? You’re a swamp witch. Or a forest ghoul.
And while you're out enjoying the crisp October evenings, keep an ear out for owls and eyes peeled for bats. ‘Tis their season, too.
Halloween doesn’t need to be a horror story for nature. With a little creativity, we can all celebrate in a way that’s kinder to the planet – and still scare the neighbours silly.
For more sustainable swaps and ways to reconnect with the wild this autumn, check out WWF’s A Prescription for Nature hub and Riverford’s seasonal recipe archive.
At Smiley Movement, we elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this post.
WWF. This is an international non-governmental organisation founded that works in the field of wilderness preservation and the reduction of human impact on the environment. Find out more.
Spadework. This charity enables people to feel more independent and offers space for them to gain social interaction and participate in hobbies like guardian. Learn more here.
The Felix Project. This charity is the UK’s leading food distribution charity as they have now merged with Fare Share. Support them here.
