And we asked if balloons degraded differently in different parts of the environment. So, we set out to quantify exactly how long latex balloons would take to break down. We wanted to know: has anything changed since 1989? And why aren’t there more studies testing balloon degradation, given the passion behind the balloon issue? We tested the claims of the balloon industry. They tested elasticity for up to one year, which means the balloons were intact for that whole time. Only one peer-reviewed scientific study has quantified balloon degradation, and that also occurred in 1989 - the same year as the industry study. Anecdotal studies have tested this to varying degrees, confirming balloons don’t break down. Here's how we can return to good habitsīecause balloons are frequently reported to be at sea, ingested by wild animals and washed up on beaches, it’s clear they’re not breaking down in only six weeks. That study was not peer-reviewed, its methods are unclear and not repeatable, and the results are based on only six balloons.Īvoiding single-use plastic was becoming normal, until coronavirus. While some factions of the balloon industry denounce balloon releases, these claims are only recent.įor decades, the industry relied on one industry-funded study from 1989 which claimed that after six short weeks, balloons degraded “at about the same rate as oak tree leaves” and there was no way balloons were a threat to wildlife. Balloon releases are common, with only some regional regulations in place, such as in New South Wales and the Sunshine Coast. Unsplash, CC BYĪnd yet, despite substantial evidence of harm and the presence of these chemicals, balloon littering persists. So, the balloons can’t be “100% natural rubber latex”.īalloons can travel vast distances in the sky before they pop and are eaten by animals. These chemicals include antioxidants and anti-fogging (to counteract that cloudy look balloons can get), plasticisers (to make it more flexible), preservatives (to enable the balloon to sit in warehouses and store shelves for months), flame retardants, fragrance and, of course, dyes and pigments.Įven more chemicals have to be used to make the additives “stick” to the latex and to stick to each other, enabling them to work in tandem to create a product we expect to use for about 24 hours. Second, what most consumers don’t realise, is that to shape milky natural rubber latex sap into the product we know as a balloon, many additional chemicals need to be added to the latex. How to get abandoned, lost and discarded 'ghost' fishing gear out of the ocean The stretchiness of balloons means they can get stuck in animals’ digestive tracts, which will cause choking, blockage, decreased nutrient absorption and effectively starve the animal. When they pop, they float back to the earth’s surface and land in, for example, the ocean or the desert, and wash up on beaches where animals can eat them, from sea turtles and seabirds to desert tortoises. This theme will be perfect for celebrating your birthday, New Year's Day, an EVJF, prom or simply for a good evening with friends.Not much changed after 14 weeks. You can create a pretty balloon arch using the accessories provided in the Box and a technical sheet with tips. This Box can be used for a party during the day for a 90's theme or in the evening for its fluorescent / phosphorescent side.Īll the decoration is in the Box so that you can easily create a pretty themed decoration.īring a real dose of magic to your parties thanks to a carefully chosen and thought-out decoration so that you can create a decorative panel that will also serve as a photocall. Whatever the event you are celebrating, the neon theme is a theme that is clearly unanimous! 25 luminous straws, green 1 6-color fluorescent water-based makeup palette with small brush (Yellow, Pink, Red, Purple, Green, Blue) (dermatologically tested)ĪTTENTION: You need a black light projector so that the balloons and the make-up are fluorescent in the dark. 15 luminous wristbands, several colors (6 hours of illumination) 12 transparent balloons 30 cm (100% latex, biodegradable) 12 black balloons 27 cm (100% latex, biodegradable) 10 black balloons with fluorescent colored dots 30 cm (100% latex, biodegradable) 100 multicolored fluorescent balloons 27 cm (100% latex, biodegradable, helium compatible)
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