Every year millions of pumpkins are bought but not eaten. New research by environmental charity Hubbub shows that 1 in 4 children (27%) have never eaten a pumpkin, despite millions being bought to celebrate Halloween every year.

Hubbub’s research including a survey of 2,000 adults, forecasts that 38.8 million1 pumpkins will be bought this Halloween. Only 37% will be eaten, meaning a frightful 24.5 million2 could go to waste, worth an estimated £41.3 million3. Hubbub also surveyed 500 children and found that two in five (44%) do not see food waste as bad for the environment.

To fend off these frightening Halloween forecasts, Hubbub have launched the #EatYourPumpkin campaign. They’ll inspire everybody to decorate, cook and eat their pumpkin for the planet, their pockets and their tastebuds.

Pumpkins are low cost and perfect for batch cooking family favourites from pumpkin mac n cheese to spiced pumpkin pancakes. If decorated rather than carved, their tasty flesh is more likely to make it on to our plate and stay out of the bin. The campaign aims to save more than 146 million4 meals-worth of pumpkin from going to waste.

Hubbub has partnered with food writer and author of Don’t Waste Your Pumpkin, Emily Gussin and a host of influencers and podcasters with the aim of inspiring families to decorate, cook and eat their pumpkins. Hubbub is also supporting 110 community groups across the UK to host their own spooky events. Last year community events brought over 9,000 people together to rescue 28 tonnes of pumpkins, equivalent to 33 tonnes6 of CO2.

Mark Breen, Senior Creative Partner at Hubbub said “The fact over a quarter of UK kids have never eaten a pumpkin has spooked me as they’re so tasty. Last Halloween, 69% of pumpkins bought were carved5 which makes them much more likely to go to waste. So, this year, whether you turn your pumpkin into a minion or even your favourite celeb, give decorating a go! It’s fun, less messy and safer than carving. It’ll mean your pumpkin lasts longer – so you can turn the seeds into a pesto and the flesh into pumpkin gingerbread or the star of a risotto, once the Halloween decorations have been taken down.”