Comments on: Party Balloons and Sustainability: What’s the Eco-Parent to Do? https://www.urbanearthworm.org/2012/09/26/party-balloons-and-sustainability-whats-the-eco-parent-to-do/ Fri, 22 Apr 2016 17:02:50 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.4.15 By: Jeremy Gustafson https://www.urbanearthworm.org/2012/09/26/party-balloons-and-sustainability-whats-the-eco-parent-to-do/#comment-5117 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 17:02:50 +0000 http://www.urbanearthworm.org/?p=556#comment-5117 My fiancé and I are thinking about using balloons as decorations at our reception; I’m curious has anyone (the author or other commenters here) successfully composted their latex balloons? Did it truly only take 6 months to decompose?

]]> By: Jim Campbell https://www.urbanearthworm.org/2012/09/26/party-balloons-and-sustainability-whats-the-eco-parent-to-do/#comment-4507 Tue, 25 Feb 2014 23:16:39 +0000 http://www.urbanearthworm.org/?p=556#comment-4507 In reply to Michelle.

Hi Michelle, Natural latex is biodegradable as it is made from a natural product, the sap from the rubber tree. Synthetic Latex or Synthetic rubber on the other hand is not biodegradable, generally because they are based on elastomers made from petro chemicals, very basically they are made using oils. Synthetics are generally used in industrial applications such as tyres, industrial belts, carpets, soles and heels for shoes, chewing gum, coated papers, glue applications etc etc.

As far as I am aware none of the latex (rubber) balloons are made from synthetics, this is the only type that should be released, other types of balloons such as foils/mylars and the new ‘bubble’ types may have some synthetics in them, but they should not be released under any circumstance either.

Good Luck
Jim

]]> By: Michelle https://www.urbanearthworm.org/2012/09/26/party-balloons-and-sustainability-whats-the-eco-parent-to-do/#comment-4505 Wed, 19 Feb 2014 16:20:53 +0000 http://www.urbanearthworm.org/?p=556#comment-4505 I think only things made from natural latex are biodegradable, not synthetic latex. I’m not even sure about natural latex, but definitely not synthetic.

]]> By: Printed Balloons https://www.urbanearthworm.org/2012/09/26/party-balloons-and-sustainability-whats-the-eco-parent-to-do/#comment-1440 Mon, 29 Oct 2012 13:00:48 +0000 http://www.urbanearthworm.org/?p=556#comment-1440 Hi Urban Earthworm,

As a ‘Balloon Professional’ I am encountering a lot more negativity about balloons than in the past, mostly from an environmental point of view. My problem is that most people who complain are in my opinion little more than ‘Bandwagon Jumpers’ unlike you they have done no research into the issue and seem incapable of coming to their own decision 🙂 You can probably tell this is a bit of an ‘Issue’ with me too.

I am based in the UK and I keep hearing of all of the Marine life such as Dolphins, Turtles etc that are being killed by balloons from mass balloon releases seemingly on a daily basis. However no one has been able to give me any verifiable data that can be checked. My own research shows that there have been no instances in the last dozen years or so. On the other hand there are many deaths due to propellor strikes, sonic disturbance, etc.

A point that you made that I want to re-iterate is that children and babies can suffocate on balloons and so they should be treated like any other toy with small parts, young children should not be unsupervised with any toy with small parts and latex from burst balloons should be disposed of immeadiatly.

I could go on about balloons and the environment at great length 🙂 but I’m sure your readers don’t want to listen to me ranting away.

Good Luck Jim

]]> By: Urban Earthworm https://www.urbanearthworm.org/2012/09/26/party-balloons-and-sustainability-whats-the-eco-parent-to-do/#comment-1128 Mon, 15 Oct 2012 21:29:08 +0000 http://www.urbanearthworm.org/?p=556#comment-1128 In reply to Evelyn Jeanne Shaw.

Sure! Please let me know what content so I can make sure I have the most up to date info available!

]]> By: Evelyn Jeanne Shaw https://www.urbanearthworm.org/2012/09/26/party-balloons-and-sustainability-whats-the-eco-parent-to-do/#comment-1106 Sat, 13 Oct 2012 04:50:39 +0000 http://www.urbanearthworm.org/?p=556#comment-1106 Can I use some of the content from your site on mine? I will make sure to link back to it 🙂

]]> By: Emmy https://www.urbanearthworm.org/2012/09/26/party-balloons-and-sustainability-whats-the-eco-parent-to-do/#comment-769 Wed, 26 Sep 2012 20:58:40 +0000 http://www.urbanearthworm.org/?p=556#comment-769 I didn’t know they could be composted, how cool is that! And yea balloons annoy me just because my kids like to keep them forever and I find old withered balloons in their rooms.

]]>