Balloon police!!!

[EnergyJaguar]

I don’t want to be the person that sucks the joy out of parties etc! But it’s just to say please please be mindful of your balloon usage.

Im not saying the odd balloon or two for parties but these huge balloon arches are a nightmare and even latex takes ages to biodegrade.

https://greenecofriend.co.uk/eco-friendly-alternatives-to-balloons/

It’s a Council owned playing field, in the middle of an estate, and they had given full permission for the tree and the plaque. In fact, the local Council encourage the planting of memorial trees in their parks and open spaces, and it’s actually Council employees who plant the tree. All above board!

There will be no winning some people over and that’s okay, no one is forcing you to buy balloons, but it is possible to buy and supply them as ethically as possible as with any purchase!

My point more is that balloons get a very disproportionately bad rep but there’s more to it than meets the eye, and if it’s something you DO want you can find the best way to do it. Let’s be real, Is your morning coffee flown in from South America essential? Is your smartphone manufactured the other side of the world essential? How long will your reusable plastic tuppaware take to break down after your gone? I’m not saying balloons are totally eco, but I often think it’s very rich when people complain about them whilst simultaneously wearing plastic soled Nike runners, iPhone in one hand, take out coffee in the other! (In my experience at work, obviously I’ve got no idea what you own or the state of your tuppaware cupboard 😂)

Fwiw Not all cars are essential either, I live in London and see a lot of ‘unnecessary’ driving (esp with electric cars now with expanded ulez but I digress…) - Having lived here for a decade with no car I often wonder why so many drive here!

I love balloons and balloon arches and balloon release etc.
But I do understand that they are terrible for the environment and have, largely, stopped using them at all.

For work (back in the mid 00s) I used to make huge balloon arches, using loads of helium, loads of balloons and plastic ribbon etc. Feel awful now with my hindsight glasses on. I was naive and young and just didn't question it at all.

Hints at 'Will you marry me and then we can go swinging'.

it is possible to buy and supply them as ethically as possible as with any purchase!

No it isn't, because some purchases are completely frivolous (like balloons) and many others aren't.

My point more is that balloons get a very disproportionately bad rep

Again, because they are completely pointless.

The rest of your post is just strawmen and logical fallacies. Balloons are not eco friendly and you know it, so own it instead of coming out with this rubbish!

I really can't get worked up about a decoration that will be put in the bin when it's finished with. As far as unnecessary waste go, there are much worse things. Right now the disposable vapes are what really piss me off.

Letting balloons go outdoors is plain old littering though. And I'm sure the loved ones people are "remembering" weren't litterbugs.

I never said they were 100% eco friendly, and I agree they are a luxury item, not a necessity. But just like any purchase, essential or luxury, as consumers we should do our due diligence and it is possible to make better purchasing decisions regarding balloons IF you want to buy them. I also think when it comes to eco bashing the term ‘glass houses’ comes to mind. Out of interest, have YOU given up every single luxury in your life in the pursuit of saving the planet?

By that argument we should all just buy and do whatever we want, fuck it. Everything’s bad so let’s do all of it and let the world burn!

I mean within reason, I wouldn’t quite phrase it that way but to a degree. As I mentioned above I think we should all do our due diligence as consumers wherever we can for any purchase in terms of it being eco friendly (and shopping local etc, you vote with your cash after all!) but the difference we make as individuals and even as a collective is pretty negligible compared to massive corporations etc. I’m not saying we should do nothing as individuals but you will drive yourself insane trying to save the world one balloon at a time when the amount of toxic gas coming out of China is increasing by the minute! (Look up China painting landscapes green to pass environmental inspections if you’re Interested)!

I certainly think as well it’s a case of finding balance in your life (enjoying life & making it easier vs environmental impact) , and that in general I don’t think many people have a leg to stand on when they criticise people who have balloons for birthdays or whatever else they deem eco-unacceptable for example, as most people are not that eco friendly if they really take a look at themselves, but they simply choose which areas they are willing to not go green in (ie they own a car, but use the same tote bag for every shopping trip but also buy an average of one bottled water a week). For example yes I blow up balloons for a living, but I don’t drive and have been abroad 3 times ever! My carbon footprint and environmental impact is probably tiny compared to your average driver or frequent flyer - it’s all relative, but it’s easier to get mad about party balloons than the bigger issues!

Why is it ok to buy a new phone every year? Or paint your walls? Or wear unnecessary make up which is full of chemicals and comes in unnecessary packaging? Or literally everything we do as humans? But balloons are not ok? Like where’s the line? Genuine question. Just don’t know how we get to decide what’s acceptable and what’s not?

People who deliberately release helium balloons should be prosecuted or at the very least fined for littering. Its abhorrent behaviour.

Absolutely agree! I’ve got into many arguments with customers over this - have genuinely chosen to loose business over it.

Balloons are awful.

I think as with anything it needs an element of rethinking, I’m not saying no balloons ever but this excessive fashion is just so so bad. Seriously don’t need balloon arches .

For those joining the force I’m just sticking with ‘Balloon Police’ for now, go forth and do your good work! Let’s break down those arches!!

We will run out of helium in the future. I can't believe there isn't more regulation to prolong it lasting. It's used in hospitals,

I think everyone assumes that they are like everyone else. I remember having a conversation with my sister about the evils of plastic straws (I was complaining that I needed 2 or 3 paper ones to drink a whole drink because they kept getting soggy), and it turned out she was basing her estimates on using at least one plastic straw a day, because that's what she did (where she worked she'd get a drink every day with a straw). I don't even use a straw a week, so the impact of me using plastic straws is already significantly less.

This is the same for pretty much everything else. I'm sure there's ways I'm 'wasting' resources, and I'm certain there's ways I think other people are 'wasting' resources.

I'm not going to get worked up about blowing up some balloons once a year for my kids party (as well as bunting, and actually some foil letter balloons which I blow up and deflate again if I want some extra shiney stuff/have the time) when I've been using the same Christmas decorations for 10 years. for example

But none of that is ok - it’s precisely what we’re trying to move away from to more eco friendly options (although I don’t know anyone who changes their phone every year - I must be moving in the wrong (right?) circles). Most of us are very aware of our use of plastic so we’re trying to cut back, cut out or recycle - balloon arches otoh have become more popular in recent years, aren’t recycled in the main, could be substituted for other more sustainable choices and serve no functional purpose whatsoever.