From Halloween through Thanksgiving, here’s how to celebrate consciously, without the trash aftermath.
The fall season is a time for gathering: crisp evenings, glowing candles, and tables filled with good food and even better company. But let’s be honest, it’s also a time when household waste tends to spike. Between Halloween decorations, Friendsgiving potlucks, and Thanksgiving feasts, Americans generate an estimated 25% more waste between October and New Year’s than at any other time of year.
Luckily, with a few thoughtful swaps and sustainable habits, you can host beautiful, joy-filled gatherings that are as kind to the planet as they are to your guests. Here’s how to become the host with the most (and the least waste) from spooky season through the final slice of pumpkin pie.
🎃 Halloween: Frightfully Fun, Not Wasteful
Halloween is all about creativity, and that extends to how you decorate, serve, and celebrate sustainably.
1. Decorate Naturally
Skip the cheap plastic decorations that break or end up in landfills. Instead, think earthy and elegant:
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Use real pumpkins, gourds, corn husks, and autumn leaves as natural décor.
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Try compostable craft projects, like garlands made from dried orange slices or paper bats cut from bamboo toilet paper tolls (like the ones from Repurpose).
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When the fun is over, everything organic can go into the compost, turning your creativity into nutrients for next season’s garden.
2. Eco-Friendly Entertaining
Halloween parties can generate piles of plastic plates and cups that stick around far longer than any ghost or ghoul. Swap them out for Repurpose compostable plates, cups, and utensils: sturdy, stylish, and non-toxic. Your guests won’t notice a difference, but the planet will.
If you’re serving drinks, consider labeling cups or using washable glassware for smaller gatherings.
3. Treats with a Conscience
Candy is part of the fun, but all those shiny wrappers? Not so much. Choose treats in recyclable or paper packaging, or buy in bulk and hand out goodies in compostable bags. Bonus: repurpose old jars or tins as candy containers for trick-or-treaters to take home.
🕯️ Friendsgiving: A Feast of Gratitude (and Conscious Choices)
Friendsgiving has become a modern ritual, a cozy, relaxed version of Thanksgiving where friends come together to eat, laugh, and toast to gratitude. Here’s how to make yours as waste-free as possible.
1. Mindful Menus
Food waste is one of the biggest culprits during the holidays. Plan your menu based on what your guests love most and be realistic about portion sizes. Encourage guests to bring a dish they can fully finish or easily repurpose into leftovers.
2. Mix and Match Tableware
If you don’t have enough plates or cups for everyone, mix and match your everyday dishes with Repurpose’s compostable plates and bowls. They’re elegant enough for a dinner party, durable enough for hearty servings, and compostable afterward; no guilt, no late-night dish pile.
3. Thoughtful Leftovers
Send your guests home with gratitude and food, just skip the plastic wrap. Instead, encourage them to bring their own reusable containers or provide compostable to-go boxes. Label each one with the dish name for an extra personal touch.
4. Atmosphere with Intention
Sustainability can still feel luxurious. For décor:
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Light soy or beeswax candles in thrifted glass jars.
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Arrange autumn leaves, dried flowers, or greenery from your backyard instead of buying new.
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Use cloth napkins or compostable paper napkins to cut down on waste.
Your space will feel warm, authentic, and beautifully eco-chic.
🦃 Thanksgiving: Gratitude Meets Green Living
Thanksgiving is the ultimate hosting challenge but it’s also the perfect opportunity to reflect on abundance and gratitude for the planet that provides it. Here’s how to host a holiday meal that honors both your guests and the Earth.
1. Shop and Cook with Purpose
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Buy local and seasonal: Visit a farmers market for in-season produce like squash, sweet potatoes, and apples. Supporting local growers cuts down on transport emissions and keeps your meal fresh.
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Plan your portions: Use a serving calculator to estimate how much food you actually need, preventing waste and saving money.
2. Set a Sustainable Table
A beautiful Thanksgiving table doesn’t need new décor every year. Use what you already have, borrow from friends, or source secondhand.
3. Compost What You Can
After dinner, compost your food scraps, napkins, and compostable tableware. Even turkey bones can be boiled into stock before composting the remainder. Turn what would be waste into a cycle of renewal for next season’s harvest.
4. Share the Sustainability Spirit
Hosting is about more than feeding people, it’s about setting a tone. Explain your composting setup to guests, or place a “Compost Here” sign near the bin. You might inspire someone to start composting at home or rethink their own hosting habits.
🍂 Entertaining Made Easy (and Eco-Friendly)
Transitioning to sustainable hosting doesn’t have to be overwhelming. The key is progress, not perfection. Here are a few quick-win swaps that make a big difference:
🌎 Small Changes, Big Impact
Every sustainable choice you make sends a message: that gatherings can be joyful and responsible. Choosing compostable products, reducing waste, and embracing reusable options helps protect our planet without sacrificing the joy of celebration.
This season, host with heart. Be the friend who brings people together around good food, good company, and good habits. Because when you celebrate sustainably, you’re not just throwing a great party, you’re honoring the planet that makes it all possible.
Ready to make your next gathering greener?
Explore Repurpose’s full line of compostable cups, plates, utensils, and more, designed to make entertaining easy, elegant, and Earth-friendly. Because sustainability shouldn’t be a chore; it should be a celebration.
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