Balloon company won’t sell me a balloon to release

[Gonewiththegin]

Just as the title suggests. I regularly use the same balloon company and had asked them to do a memorial balloon. They replied they do not sell balloons to be released. AIBU to think they have no say what I do with said balloon once I’ve paid £30 to have it made.

How about floating flowers/petals down a stream instead?

Don’t think the thread has gone how the OP hoped. Have you taken on board the feedback OP and thought what else you could do to commemorate?

Some other posters have suggested some nice more environmentally friendly ways of commemorating someone.

Bubbles?

Thanks for catching on, its good you know now.

Well they don't have a say once it's sold but as you've told them what you plan to do they have the right not to sell it to you. It is environmentally not a good thing to do and they are being responsible.

Plant something pretty
Grow some seeds
Light a candle
Fly a kite

Who wouldn't want to be remembered by choking a horse? How on earth you think doing this is a way of paying your respects to a loved one is beyond me. Watching a piece of foil, helium and string go up into the sky for a moment without ever thinking of the impact this will have once it's out of sight.
Use your £30 to do some good instead.

@Gonewiththegin Maybe have a star named their relative, still in the sky so near to heaven?

It's good you've realised how dangerous releasing balloons are, nearby farmers have lost lambs and calves to them trying to eat balloons in their fields but sadly many people still think its okay to do.

Good to see companies taking an ethical stance on this. Releasing balloons and chinese paper lanterns are very damaging to the environment and I'm not really sure how nice a tribute it is to a loved one to potentially kill some animal with a balloon... I certainly wouldn't want someone doing that in memory of me. See link for alternative ideas:
www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/litter/balloon-and-sky-lantern-alternatives
I've always liked the idea of planting a tree and tying a ribbon or charm or label on it every year in memory of the person I'm remembering.

Good for them. Helium is a finite resource, so we shouldn't be sticking it in balloons anyway... it's needed for more important things.

The woodland trust are promoting the 'Plant a Tree for the Jubilee' project right now. Perhaps this might be an option. A nice memorial and a chance to be involved in a bigger project which your child can track on line over the years?

www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/schools-and-communities/queens-green-canopy/

How about planting something, that way you have a lasting memory.

@Gonewiththegin

Not a goading post at all, I genuinely had no idea why they refused 😳 I shamefully hadn’t thought about it thoroughly. Thanks for enlightening me.

Any ideas of anything else we could do? It was for my little one to send up to heaven for their relative and they will be terribly disappointed due to my ignorance.

How can anyone not realise that releasing a non-biodegradable balloon might not be an evironmentally sensible thing to do

Have you never noticed balloons stock in trees, heard of animals being injured or wondered what happened to them?

I find that a little hard to believe

Maybe you could release a biodegradable Chinese lantern. Although maybe I’m ignorant that’s also bad for the environment.

Sorry for your loss.

@Gonewiththegin

Not a goading post at all, I genuinely had no idea why they refused 😳 I shamefully hadn’t thought about it thoroughly. Thanks for enlightening me.

Any ideas of anything else we could do? It was for my little one to send up to heaven for their relative and they will be terribly disappointed due to my ignorance.

Hi OP, I'm sorry for your loss.

I would suggest explaining to your wee girl that 'balloons don't go to heaven like I thought, how about we go to the park and send a lot of bubbles to (relative) instead"

Bubbles

Some other ideas:

Blow bubbles
Scatter wild flower seeds / seed bomb
Plant a tree, rose bush, plant or flower
Throw a flower into a river

I think a lot of people haven't seen your update OP i'm glad you've learnt something, having seen more than one animal dead from eating a balloon the company are doing a great thing.
How about planting a tree or bush, of was there a charity or cause your relative was passionate about perhaps a donation to them. As for your little one could you light some candles outside when its dark one evening and tell them the lights can be seen from heaven so their message will still be received?

Good!

Get them to write a note and then stick it in a bbq/put it in a metal can and set it on fire so the smoke takes the message?

Sorry, didn't realize it had gone over the page and a gazillion other posters had made the same suggestion

@iklboo

Some other ideas:

Blow bubbles
Scatter wild flower seeds / seed bomb
Plant a tree, rose bush, plant or flower
Throw a flower into a river

These are lovely ideas

@LH1987

Maybe you could release a biodegradable Chinese lantern. Although maybe I’m ignorant that’s also bad for the environment.

Sorry for your loss.

These are equally dangerous unfortunately, you're releasing fire and didn'tnt know where it will land - lanterns have been known to start wild fires, land on horses and set their rugs (coats) on fire, etc.

Blow a dandelion clock, scatter forget me not seeds or flower petals?

Find a different way to honour your loved one.

If I thought my family would do something so unethical and environmentally harmful after I was dead I’d be horrified. Good for the company.

Thank you all for the suggestions. A star is a lovely idea, I think we will do that instead.

The thread didn’t go the way I expect you are right. I am glad I posted as I now know it’s very harmful. Otherwise I would have found another company and went ahead with the release.