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Are biodegradable balloons a myth? We reveal what marketers aren’t telling you about their eco-claims.
Planning a green celebration? Biodegradable balloons sound perfect, right? But do they live up to the hype?
Let's delve into the facts. Biodegradable balloons are marketed as the eco-friendly choice for parties. They promise to break down quickly, leaving no harm to our planet.
Yet, how true is this claim?
The unfortunate reality is that the balloon industry has lied to the public long enough to make them believe that balloons are environmentally friendly.
We all want to host vibrant, guilt-free gatherings. That's why understanding the truth about biodegradable balloons is crucial. Are they truly kind to the earth, or just a clever marketing ploy?
This guide will help you navigate the maze of eco-friendly options.
Let's make eco-conscious choices together, starting with the truth about biodegradable balloons. Join us in rethinking eco-friendly celebrations!
Are There Biodegradable Balloons?
The only accurate answer to this question is NO, THERE ARE NONE.
And no matter how much you hear people say that these balloons contain only latex (which is a biodegradable material) it’s just a way too simplistic answer.
But let me first give you a little bit of background on why this is so.
The Biodegradable Balloon Deception
In 1989, a study sponsored by the balloon industry looked at the effects of balloon releases on the environment.
The conclusion of the study, not surprisingly, was that latex balloons were perfectly safe.
The reason given in the study was that most helium-filled balloons would burst into tiny pieces, and they would biodegrade as fast as an oak leaf.
That sounds nice, but there were some significant flaws in the study, which was never peer-reviewed.
It also didn’t publish the exact methods used to test how they decompose, and some recent tests have shown zero degradation after 16 weeks. This all just seemed too fishy for me.
So, what really happens with biodegradable latex balloons in the environment?
The Reality of Biodegradable Balloons
Let’s take a look at an oak leaf first.
It sounds great to highlight that biodegradable latex balloons decompose at the same rate as a leaf. However, that doesn’t highlight the fact that this process could take more than 6 months, depending on the conditions.
Now, an oak leaf poses no danger to animals during those 6 months. But that cannot be said for balloons.
The rubbery texture and elasticity remain in place, making it a choking hazard for many smaller animals.
And larger animals aren’t immune to damage either, whether the balloons remain intact or shatter into tiny pieces.
If the pieces are too small to suffocate an animal, they are still large enough to get stuck in digestive tracts, which essentially means the animal will starve to death.
So, the whole concept of balloons being environmentally friendly is complete greenwashing, and I’ll get into some more details about the degrading time frame shortly.
Can Balloons Be Recycled?
Technically it’s possible to recycle balloons made of synthetic plastics or natural latex.
However, most household waste recycling facilities don’t cater for separating these types of rubbery materials.
So, no matter how much balloon manufacturers and sellers keep saying it, they are not eco-friendly ways to have some fun.
And here’s why.
The Balloon Recycling Problem
So, there are ways to recycle natural latex and blend it with other synthetic materials. [1] However, this ends up creating even less recyclable stuff called polystyrene.
For me, turning something moderately problematic into something even more problematic isn’t exactly what I would call dealing with the problem.
And there’s a more significant issue with this.
As soon as you mix in other chemicals and synthetic materials, you don’t have raw latex anymore. And it is a lot more common in balloon production than companies claim.
The whole concept of balloons being environmentally friendly is complete greenwashing,
That latex you see in balloons is far from being natural by the time it gets to you. It contains dyes, chemicals, and plasticizers that make it far from compostable or recyclable.
Next, let’s take a closer look at decomposition to show you that balloons are indeed not environmentally friendly.
How Long Do Biodegradable Balloons Take To Decompose?
Before we get to some real-life test results, let’s start with a simple definition and explanation.
What Makes Something Compostable?
Obviously, for something to be compostable, it has to biodegrade through natural processes. But it also has to happen within a specific timeframe. And fortunately, there is an industrial standard that covers this.
This standard says that it would have to disintegrate within 12 weeks and not be distinguishable from the surrounding soil.
I’ll admit it, 12 weeks sounds a bit optimistic, so I chose two experiments that go well beyond that time frame.
Test Conducted by the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania
The setup of the test conducted by Morgan Gilmour and Jennifer Lavers was simple and straightforward. [2] The experiment added a few colorful latex balloons to an industrial compost heap and monitored the progress over 16 weeks.
The results were far from eco-friendly.
After 16 weeks in an industrial compost heap, we unearthed blue and white balloons and found them totally unscathed. The knots we spent hours painstakingly tying by hand more than four months ago were still attached, and sparkly blue balloons still glinted in the sun.
Morgan Gilmour, Adjunct Researcher in Marine Science, University of Tasmania
There was no change in the look or feel of these balloons. And that would provide more than enough time for wildlife to pick it up.
Test Conducted by Balloons Blow
I love the name of this non-profit organization, but the test they ran is even more impressive. [3]
Interestingly, the authors here refer to oak leaves taking up to 4 years to degrade fully. And their helium balloons test gave a fascinating insight.
They picked up two latex balloons in December 2011 and then put them directly onto soil in a garden. The researchers chose this approach as it’s difficult to argue that every balloon release ends up perfectly placed into a dedicated compost heap.
So, what were the results?
5 years later, the balloons were still recognizable and had not degraded anywhere near enough to be classified as decomposed.
What Can Be Used Instead Of Biodegradable Balloons?
Now, many people hear this, and they think that families and kids need some bit of fun at big events.
And I totally agree.
But I wonder how many people, especially kids, would still want to use balloons if they fully understood how much damage they do to animals.
So I’ve come up with a list of ideas that kids can use instead of balloons.
1. Pinwheels
You can buy these or even make them yourself. I have seen several schools that used this idea as an art project to use up scrap materials that were heading for the recycling bin.
It’s amazing what even a few dozen of these products look like outside a classroom window. But imagine the effect hundreds or thousands of them could have at larger events.
The great thing is that the entertainment isn’t over in a matter of seconds, which is what happens with helium balloons.
2. Flags And Banners
These are best for events where you want to brighten up the sky. They can be attached to fences, traffic lights, and in between buildings to make a wonderfully colorful display that flutters in the wind.
And the best thing about these products is that you can use them again for many years to come.
3. Bubbles
I know how much fun kids get out of balloons. But if you’ve ever seen a group of kids playing with bubbles coming out of a bubble machine, then it beats a balloon release hands down.
Kids will remain entertained for hours, and if you use safe, eco-friendly detergent, then there wouldn’t be any harm to animals either.
4. Kites
Older kids might not get as much entertainment out of balloons, but if there’s a little bit of wind, then try floating some brightly colored kites.
If you get enough of them in the air, it can become a much more impressive display than a few seconds of latex balloons floating away.
5. Colorful Umbrellas
I saw this beautiful idea on a trip to Portugal, where some towns have created shade in pedestrian areas by tying up hundreds of sun umbrellas in loads of different colors.
It’s incredibly effective to look at, but also provides some cooling sun protection as well.
Whether you’re planning a small birthday party or major event, these ideas won’t break the bank and could work out a lot cheaper than filling balloons with helium.
And, of course, you won’t be damaging the environment.
6. Ribbon Dancers
You can make these out of recycled party streamers. Similar to the pinwheels above, I’ve seen kids in schoolyards running around with them after making them from leftover artwork.
If you do buy them, then just make sure they are made out of biodegradable paper rather than plastic that could end up causing problems.
7. Seasonal Flowers
I’ve seen some communities plan out the types of trees and flowers they plant to be in full bloom at the time of regular festivities.
The effect of cherry blossoms or a sea of daffodils and lavender can be so much more amazing to look at than anything synthetic.
For me, I like to get this seed mix of annual, biennial, and perennial flowers and herbs from Botanical Interests so I'll always have gorgeous flowers in my garden whenever we decide to throw a party for friends and family any time of the year.
FAQ
No, mylar balloons don’t decompose. Mylar is a synthetic product that will never biodegrade. Unfortunately, it’s a material that you’ll find in too many household items and many companies still make balloons with this pollutant.
No, there are no biodegradable water balloons because all balloons are either made of mylar or a highly processed form of latex. While you can technically compost latex, the way companies mix it with chemicals and synthetic plastics makes it a substance that won’t easily break down.
No, foil balloons are not biodegradable. They are made from a synthetic type of nylon that makes them air and watertight. It’s also not possible to recycle them as you cannot easily extract the materials that make them shiny.
Over 100,000 marine mammals are killed each year by balloons according to some estimates published by the NY Times. What’s shocking is that 5% of dead sea turtles had latex balloons in their stomach, leading to starvation.
Balloons are made of rubber, but it’s important to also note that they often contain plasticizers. These synthetic and chemical compounds make natural rubber and latex softer and more durable, but they also make the balloons less biodegradable.
Conclusion
Don’t believe the balloon industry: there is no such thing as a biodegradable balloon.
I have shown you the results of two excellent tests that prove that a helium latex balloon won’t just degrade. They are very harmful to the environment, and millions of animals suffer and die every year because of them.
So, let’s put an end to the massive use of balloons and switch to some of the great alternatives I have recommended above.
References
- https://www.worldscientific.com/doi/pdf/10.1142/S2010194512003492
- https://theconversation.com/we-composted-biodegradable-balloons-heres-what-we-found-after-16-weeks-138731
- https://balloonsblow.org/biodegradability-backyard-test/
After my son died I had a candlelight vigil and thought that I was making the better choice by utilizing lanterns. However after I started my own personal journey and getting more people to help me clean the planet with what I call Rep Yo Hood Events I started seeing a tremendous amount of balloon debris that really disturbed and saddened me. I now choose not to participate in any annual events that releases lanterns or regular latex balloons. I am now going to try my best to be an advocate, a loud mouth, a spokesperson to get the word out to stop people from doing such a thing And destroying the planet. Articles such these I really appreciate it because I really did think that there were biodegradable balloons until I did more research and now I really need to play my part in helping with keeping the world cleaner and our animals safer.
100% agree! Do people consider that when they do a balloon release they’re literally just throwing trash into the sky that ends up somewhere else for someone to pick up or animals to eat and choke on??
Even if balloons were fully biodegradable, that doesn’t solve the problem. That just means that they break down into pieces so small they are no longer distinguishable from the surrounding soil. In fact, the smaller the pieces become, the smaller the animals that can ingest them so they enter the food chain earlier.
If balloons were made from truly unprocessed organic (not “natural”) latex, and put into properly managed compost, they may be safe for the environment. There is a standard for organic latex called GOLS but as of today (12/2/22), when searching for +GOLS +balloons, google yielded zero results.
I think it will be a long time, if ever, before truly environmentally safe balloons will exist.
Given the global shortage of helium, perhaps it’s best if balloons become a thing of the past.
Another fun alternative is Chinese lanterns. They’re colorful and round and easy to store when not in use. We hung them from our shade umbrella at my son’s party instead of hanging balloons. Thanks for realistic info!
Thank you for your article. I have been stating the same and I’m now up against a board who wants to use environmentally friendly balloons during an upcoming fundraiser.
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Thank you for this post. Especially there are articles which claims that latex balloons are compostable. But your references made it clear that they are not. Surely I will look for some other eco friendly items for my kids.