![]() Paper streamers are a quick and easy alternative to paper chains – just string them up around the place for some instant festivity, and your decorating can be done in a matter of minutes! They’re also fun to make and can keep the kids occupied in the run-up to party day. Paper chains are traditional, pretty and biodegradable, and may be recyclable or compostable depending on the paper you use. Reusable bunting is increasingly popular and can be made of fabric to avoid using plastic. Buntingīunting is a string of smaller flags and can be used alongside, or instead of larger flags. Individual flags placed around your party area can be used in games and activities, customised with names and dates as a keepsake, or made reusable for future occasions. This is a great way to get some extra use out of your Christmas tree lights, too! Flags Use LED lights or LED ‘candles’ to be even more eco-friendly. LightsĪ string of fairy lights or a few well-placed lanterns can make a colourful substitute for balloons. ![]() If you’re planning to use plastics at your party – for decoration or for plates and cutlery etc – you might want to check our guide to which plastics can be recycled and which can’t. Here are our top 10 balloon decoration ideas. Are there any eco-friendly balloon alternatives? Many of the physical impacts of party balloon waste are very similar to the reasons why plastic is bad for the planet. In addition to all of this, there are potentially harmful chemicals used to make the balloon more elastic, to prevent it from fogging up, to make it fire resistant, to preserve it during long-term storage and, of course, to dye it a pretty colour. The physical part of the balloon may land out at sea, where it pollutes the oceans and can choke marine life if eaten, or it may come down on land and pose a choking hazard to wildlife. What is the physical impact of party balloon waste? This is mixed with other gases to create a lighter-than-air balloon helium alternative and reduce consumption of fresh, laboratory-grade helium gas. Some party suppliers now use balloon gas, which is a mixture of helium that has already been used in science or healthcare, and is no longer suitable for direct reuse in those disciplines. When they come down, the helium is lost – and because it is so light and does not react with other gases, it escapes Earth’s atmosphere completely, never to return. What impact do balloons have on the environment?īalloon release, for example at a baby gender reveal party, sends these latex or mylar foil balloons untethered into the atmosphere, with no idea where they will land. After 16 weeks in compost, freshwater or saltwater, no meaningful degradation was found, and the researchers concluded that in all three environments, balloons would continue to threaten wildlife if ingested. In February 2021, the Journal of Hazardous Materials published research that found latex balloons behave like plastic in the environment. The preservatives used mean even 100% latex balloons can take many months to degrade in landfill sites, or somewhere out in the environment. ![]() How long do biodegradable balloons take to decompose?īiodegradable balloons may sound like an eco friendly balloon option. Neither material makes for an especially eco friendly balloon, due to the length of time it takes for the latex or mylar to decompose – especially if released into the environment to land at random. Mylar is a plastic but is usually given a thin coat of aluminium, to create the shiny foil balloon decorations often filled with helium. In this article we’ll take a look at why, and list some of the environmentally friendly alternatives to balloon release and helium balloon decorations for your next party.Ī normal balloon is made of latex or mylar. If you’re concerned about protecting the environment, helium balloons are a definite no-no. Helium balloons are a lot of fun, whether they’re bobbing on the end of a piece of string tied to a child’s wrist, or turning people’s voices squeaky at a grown-up party.īut balloons can be harmful to the environment and helium is a very, very limited resource – and we can’t make more of it.
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