At Appletree and Avalon we’re always looking at ways to help simplify your choices but also give you inspiration or ideas on how to cut out plastic.
Whether you’re brave enough to make things yourself, need support with the vital ingredients or simply just trying to figure it all out, we hope to be able to assist!
Halloween or Hallowe’en, also known as Allhalloween, All Hallows’ Eve, or All Saints’ Eve, is a celebration observed in several countries on 31 October, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows’ Day
It is widely believed that many Halloween traditions originated from ancient Celtic harvest festivals, particularly the Gaelic festival Samhain; that such festivals may have had pagan roots; and that Samhain itself was Christianized as Halloween by the early Church. Some believe, however, that Halloween began solely as a Christian holiday, separate from ancient festivals like Samhain
Whatever your beliefs, Halloween activities can include fun things such as trick-or-treating , attending Halloween costume parties, carving pumpkins into jack-o’-lanterns, , apple bobbing, visiting haunted attractions, telling scary stories, or watching horror films!
So where is all this plastic coming from?
Well the obvious things, such as sweets and costumes spring to mind, but there are lots of other things contributing, as we know.
The supermarkets are packed high with so many options, it’s really easy to pick something up for a reasonable price! But, what’s the greater price we’re paying for that costume or packet or sweets? It’s just one right?
Think again!
Halloween costumes being sold by some of the UK’s biggest retailers contain the same amount of plastic as over 80 million plastic bottles, according to a new study.
Charities have looked at over 300 clothing lines sold by 19 different retailers & they concluded that 83% of the material found in costumes on sale contain oil-based plastic like polyester.
“The scariest thing about Halloween is now plastic”.
As the number of people participating in Halloween increases, the consumption & waste of these ‘one night only’ costumes is hitting crazy limits as more are being bought each year!
Whilst, we don’t sell costumes & don’t want to spoil your fun, Appletree and Avalon have included options in their Halloween event that really can make a difference.
Even down to reusable travel mugs that help out the Mum’s & Dad’s whilst they follow the children on a cold evening!
And, if you’re struggling for ideas on costumes, what’s wrong with creating something out of piled up junk, up-cycling old clothes or even reusing rubbish! Surely that is more positive, inventive & eco-friendly than a polyester ghoul or two!
The fact is, there are a lot of alternatives out there that are just as competitive on price and might also help the environment, make you stand out in the crowd or provide you with a reusable functional item after use!
These options may even save you money, and trust us, it wont take anymore of your time than a trip to the shops!
Be bold, be brave but be mindful!
Most importantly, have a fang-tastic night!
What’s your biggest ‘bugbear’ at Halloween or any other event?
As the appetite to shop locally & support local businesses grows, we took part in the first-ever Made in UK Day on Tuesday 9 March 2021. This was something we felt was important & dear to our hearts as I had set the business up before Brexit, before Covid & before the small business movement concentrating on British manufacture as important integral part to this business & the thinking behind its sustainable ethos
Veganuary is a UK nonprofit organisation that promotes and educates about veganism by encouraging people to follow a vegan lifestyle for the month of January.
Want a tasty meal to get you started? Something that won’t cost the earth, financially or literally!
Here’s a simple recipe for Aubergine & Sage Spaghetti
Each Christmas, the UK generates the equivalent weight of 3.3million emperor penguins in plastic waste!
1 billion cards will end up in the bin/trash….
27,000 miles of wrapping paper is used every year in the U.K, most of which can’t be recycled due to glitter or metallic finishes….
AND 250,000 tonnes of food waste is generated every Christmas in the U.K alone! (Equivalent to 2 million turkeys)
On top of that, 81 million unwanted Christmas presents are given each year… with 10% of these ending up in landfill!
With these staggering figures, it’s easy to find alternatives to our current habits. Particularly with this year being so difficult to get out & about to see anyone. If you are buying this year, #buybetterfortheplanet.
