This FB Group Is Dedicated To Cheap And Neat Halloween Decorations, Here Are The 40 Best Ones

Bored Panda got in touch with Kathryn Kell from Goingzerowaste.com to discuss thinking about how we consume things and she was kind enough to answer some of our questions. After all, most Halloween decorations and costumes are just items we buy in a store, so we wanted to know why it is important to avoid using too much plastic, paper, and other materials for packaging.

“The materials used to package our items all have an environmental impact. For example, to make plastic, the raw material crude oil must be extracted from earth in an unsustainable manner, usually through fracking.”

“Then it must undergo processing in a fossil fuel powered factory where it is transformed into moldable plastic. Next, it must be shipped to warehouses or stores, which typically requires gas powered trucks to transport,” she shared. This is why experts tend to talk about carbon chains, which include all the carbon emissions along the entire process of getting a product to a consumer, not just in its manufacturing.

“All these factors have a high carbon footprint. Not to mention the end of life of our packaging, especially plastic, is another thing to consider. Only 5-6% of plastic is recycled while the rest ends up in our environment or in landfills. So when we can reduce packaging waste, I think it's important to do so.”

Naturally, we wanted to hear her opinion on why so many companies still insist on using packaging and materials that are terrible for the environment. “Some of it has to do with cost: It’s cheaper to buy virgin plastic than recycled, for example. But another factor for brands is keeping up with trends and marketing.”

“Brands want to be unique and catch your eye, and one way they can do that is through packaging. Sometimes, this leads to excessive, over-the-top choices. Also, if they are selling their products through a third party, like Amazon, sometimes they don’t have control over how their products are shipped and packaged.”

So we wanted to hear what are some simple ways we can limit our “waste” at home. “A simple swap everyone can do to cut down on plastic waste is just ordering less takeout. Takeout containers often come in plastic, and with smaller plastic packets (think ketchup pouches, soy sauce holders, etc.) and can be hard to recycle.”