Ballonger och miljö

I have recently been to a birthday party and as usual, the front entrance, the garden, the house and even the street were decorated with balloons. Needless to say we all had a great time, especially when at the end of the party all balloons were released into the sky accompanied by a glass of champagne with the usual “hip hip hourrah”. But when back home, I was wondering what, if any, effect do balloons have on our environment. And I was surprised to learn that they DO have, even those so called “ecological”.

Probably you did not know that helium balloons (the “regular” ones), and even latex ones (the “ecological” ones) can pose a serious risk to marine wildlife, despite manufacturers' claims to the contrary. The balloon industry argues that, because they are made of latex, they are biodegradable at the same rate as an oak leaf and have no effect on the environment. But environmentalists will disagree. The concern is not so much about their biodegradability, but the effect they have on animals that mistake them for food and consume them once they burst or come back down to ground. Animals also become entangled in the strings and ribbons that are still attached.


For more information on balloon effects on our environment, please consult:
- The Studies of Marine Animals
- Pollution issues UK website
- UK Rivers Network
- Earth Talks Q&A

While I am not suggesting that we should have “balloon-free parties”, I am just proposing that we take better responsibility in just a few simple ways:
• Keep balloons indoors (if possible),
• Never purposely release them into the sky,
• When they are outdoors, weight them down to prevent “escape”, and
• Detach the strings and simply dispose of them properly when you’re finished with them.

I agree, balloons are great fun, especially for children, but the “price” our environment is paying is quite high.