Breaking up with the balloon garland.
Bright colour, framing a myriad of loved ones and happy memories. I get it. Balloons have been the go-to decoration for parties for generations, and for the last few years, balloons tied together to create arches or ‘link-a-loon’ garlands. The trouble is as we know, balloons are made of rubber, nylon or latex which when discarded, do not break down in the environment, and worse still are often consumed pr caught around wildlife.
While it is widely known releasing helium balloons into the air (and imagining them reaching your loved one in the sky), actually causes severe damage to the environment and wildlife(and is now illegal in the state of Victoria). According to Sustainability Victoria, “A CSIRO study identified balloons among the top three most harmful pollutants threatening marine wildlife, along with plastic bags and bottles.
Balloons end up in our waterways, oceans and parklands, causing significant damage to our environment and harming wildlife in many ways. Balloons break down into small pieces of brightly coloured plastic that can look like food and are often ingested by wildlife. Balloons are often found in the stomachs of dead animals.
And then there are the plastic balloon sticks. When these end up in the ocean they don’t biodegrade and, instead, break down into smaller pieces, making them look like the perfect food to marine life.
Wildlife can become entangled in ribbons and strings that were attached to balloons, which puts the animal at risk of being strangled to death.”
It really is time to rethink the use of balloons full stop. They have had a good run over the years. Lets now think ahead.
A few hours of aesthetic pleasure providing the perfect photo op can be easily replaced with some creative thinking. Hiring items for an impactful backdrop is easier on the wallet and planet.
Try a few of these suggestions and suppliers;
https://electricconfetti.com/category/hire - Neon signage hire
https://banginhangins.com.au/bangin-arches/ - Streamer arch hire
http://greenevent.com.au/products/live-artificial-green-walls/ - Green wall hire
https://lilacandthecat.com.au/ - Sustainable floristry (why not try a hanging bottle wall with single floral springs)
For more tips on how to plan your event more sustainably, drop us a line anytime. Always happy to help!