To think there must be a sustainable alternative to balloons

[Dislocatedeyeballs]

We now all know balloons are bad for environment but for kids parties celebrations there's nothing better so whats the alternative then? Is rubber more sustainable than plastic? Are there any answers!

That was supposed to be a question mark

Rubber is just processed sap from a rubber tree. It biodegrades in time.

They are only bad for the environment if released outside to blow all over the place. Quite apart from the litter, they can get ingested by animals and cause harm.

How about reusable bunting? Those tassels made from tissue paper? Pom poms made from tissue paper?

How about these. So pretty!

I’d love to see an end to balloons as they’re so wasteful and a poor use of fossil fuels. I’m particularly unhappy about them being released en masse for prizewinning to see which travels furthest.
They get stuck in trees causing litter and drop down causing environmental issues in both land and sea.
I’m also against Chinese lanterns for similar reasons.
@TheFaerieQueene ‘s idea looks gorgeous. We need more ideas like this.

@TheFaerieQueene What are they, please?

whats the alternative then?

A ball?

1Morewineplease helium balloons released west of the Pennines get put in our bins so they don't end up around or in some poor animal. My running club do a weekly social run where we litter pick the moors. We are still finding ones from Alfies Army, what looks like football celebrations, several new years celebrations (some dating back to the 90's) and random people letting balloons go at fetes and fairs. There were a spate of school released balloons to tick off a national curriculum thing, but if there is an address we send them back with a picture of where they landed and the potential consequence of an animal getting tangled. They seem to have tailed off now.

@Unescorted that’s so sad. I live in hope that folk realise the damage that these balloons do. Yes, schools around these parts ( Kent) kept doing these sponsored balloon races to raise much needed money but I think ( I hope) that schools have had a rethink. Thank you for your comment.

People are always shocked we don't have balloons ever in our family and feel sorry for my dc. My dc understand - I have a severe latex allergy so it's like a family with a peanut allergy having peanuts in the house, why would you. You really can live happily without them. We have bunting and disco lights instead.

We never have them anymore. They aren't missed! Does there have to be an alternative? I think sometimes people think they are musts when having a party, but we've just don't bother and it's been fine. All parties have been successful! No plastic in the party bags either anymore but really don't like balloons.