QUEZON CITY — The environmental health organization EcoWaste Coalition appealed to organizers of Halloween events to plan for a simple celebration as powerful typhoon Kristine lashed the Philippines leaving a trail of death, destruction and misery.
Local government units, homeowners’ associations, youth clubs, private companies, shopping malls and others planning to celebrate Halloween can use the money saved to assist the survivors.
“The money not spent for buying Halloween decorations, costumes, toys, and treats and for holding parades and parties can be shared to church, civic and media groups providing rapid aid to survivors in need,” said Aileen Lucero, national coordinator, EcoWaste Coalition.
“The money saved for no-frills Halloween events can then be used for food packs, hygiene kits, medicines, housing materials, clothes, school supplies, and other necessities for the numerous families devastated by the typhoon,” she said.
The group likewise discouraged 2025 election candidates from using Halloween events, as well as typhoon Kristine relief and rescue activities, to publicize their names and political aspirations. “Please be generous without fanfare,” the group told aspiring public servants.
To reduce the wastefulness that often characterized Halloween and other festivities, the EcoWaste Coalition encouraged event organizers and participants to heed the following eco-tips:
1. Avoid plastic costumes and masks. Create costumes from repurposed items to avoid buying pricey ready-to-wear attires and accessories, particularly those made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic. With a little bit of creativity, parents and kids can turn old clothes and fabrics into something fun or spooky.
2. Avoid face paints. Opt for natural substitutes to face paints, which often lack quality and safety assurance and may contain bacterial and chemical contaminants. Try food-grade alternatives commonly found in the kitchen such as food coloring, annatto seeds, turmeric, cocoa powder, cornstarch, etc.
3. Avoid plastic buckets. Instead of plastic pumpkin buckets, encourage children to bring reusable cloth bags, old socks or their school lunch bags for Halloween treats.
4. Avoid unauthorized and unlabeled plastic toys. Refrain from buying soft plastic toys, which may be laden with hormone-disrupting phthalates, as well as painted toys, which may be coated with leaded paints, unless these toys are authorized and labeled phthalate-free or lead-free.
5. Avoid treats in disposable wrappers. Consider healthier alternatives to candies with little nutritional value and often wrapped in plastic that is hardly recycled. Treat kids with wholesome food such home-made cookies or sandwiches in paper napkins or small paper bags. Give kids bananas and other fruits in season.
“With lots of imagination and creativity, we can make Halloween, Christmas and other festive occasions less wasteful and more in tune with the triple planetary crisis in our midst,” the EcoWaste Coalition said.
“Triple planetary crisis,” according to the United Nations, “refers to the three main interlinked issues that humanity currently faces: climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss.”
Reference:
https://unfccc.int/news/what-is-the-triple-planetary-crisis
