Throughout October, Green Halloween,® a national effort to make the holiday more sustainable, reached approximately 1,008,000 people through roughly 70 green events held at zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), as well as 25 community events, and helped to distribute more than 1,053,000 healthy options to trick-or-treaters, thanks to the support of Green Halloween’s product partners.  Additionally, Green Halloween and the AZA teamed up to distribute more than 90,000 educational wallet cards that focused on environmental conservation and animal protection.

Earlier in the month, National Costume Swap Day™ (also a Green America program) was celebrated by more than 8,000 families with 200 events in 38 states.  These free community events brought families together to swap (rather than buy new) costumes and prevent needless consumption and waste from year to year.

“We were very pleased to have our annual “Boo at the Zoo event” play a role in helping Green Halloween,” said Cleveland Metroparks Zoo’s Manager of Marketing & Public Relations Sue Allen. “The Zoo’s conservation-themed messages are a good fit with the sustainability efforts of groups like Green Halloween, and the partnership resulted in great tasting treats for our guests.”

Green Halloween Los Angeles Event Coordinator, Alivia Hunter said, “I am so lucky to have discovered Green Halloween. Being a volunteer event coordinator has opened my eyes to how wasteful Halloween can be in this country, but also that there are so many better alternatives that so many people are excited about!”

Green Halloween is grateful for the support of the dozens of Volunteer Coordinators who host events and help spread the word.

For ideas on how to Green your Thanksgiving and other upcoming holidays, you can check out the most recent Green America Magazine online, where you will find tips such as hosting a holiday party with a purpose and green gift ideas.

Also, for ideas on how to remove unhealthy genetically modified organisms (GMOs) from your Thanksgiving table, check out Green America’s newest campaign, GMO Inside, which helps Americans to recognize genetically engineered foods and encourage companies to get those ingredients out of our food.

To find out more about Green Halloween and how you can participate in 2013, visit www.GreenHalloween.org and www.CostumeSwapDay.com.

About Green Halloween®

GREEN HALLOWEEN® is a grassroots community initiative that helps families celebrate healthier and environmentally-friendly holidays, starting with Halloween. The initiative, along with its sister program, National Costume Swap Day™, became programs of Green America in July 2012.  www.GreenHalloween.org

GREEN AMERICA is the nation’s leading green economy organization. Founded in 1982, Green America (formerly Co-op America) provides the economic strategies, organizing power and practical tools for businesses and individuals to solve today's social and environmental problems. www.GreenAmerica.org

GREEN HALLOWEEN PRODUCT PARTNERS

Green Halloween is grateful for the generous support of our product partners: Honest Tea, Lärabar, Stretch Island Fruit Company, Endangered Species Chocolate, Plum Kids™, UNREAL™, Cascadian Farms, Applegate, Surf Sweets, Brainards Natural Remedies, Bitsy’s Brainfood, Glee Gum and Mr. Ellie Pooh.

Green America

Green America

Green America is United States' leading green economy organization. Founded in 1982, Green America provides the economic strategies, organizing power and practical tools for businesses and individuals to solve today's social and environmental problems. Green America's green economy programs encourage corporate responsibility, tackle climate change, build fair trading systems, advance healthy, local communities, and provide green purchasing and investing information for families and businesses. To receive Green America's popular publications, including the Green American and the National Green Pages™, participate in Green Festivals, or to get its free e-newsletter, providing the latest green news, green discounts, and opportunities to take action for a green economy, visit http://www.GreenAmerica.org, email info@GreenAmericaToday.org, or call at 800-58-GREEN.

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