By Jacqui Saxon — 32 years in balloon décor, with displays built for The Rolling Stones, Tina Turner, Coca-Cola and Amazon. Last updated: 19 October 2026.
Are balloons bad for the environment? Some are. Others aren’t — and the difference comes down entirely to the material and what happens to them afterwards. Foil balloons don’t biodegrade and should never be released. Natural latex balloons are made from rubber tree sap and break down much like a leaf, provided they’re never released and are disposed of properly. That’s the honest, unglamorous truth, from someone who’s worked in this industry for 32 years.
Latex vs foil — they’re not the same thing
Foil balloons are plastic-coated and don’t break down in any meaningful timeframe. If you see “eco-friendly balloons” claimed anywhere, check the material first — foil is never that, whatever the packaging says. Natural latex is a genuinely different material: biodegradable rubber, closer to a rubber band than a plastic bag.
Why I don’t do balloon releases — ever
Released balloons come down somewhere — a field, a hedge, the sea — and they don’t ask permission when they land. Wildlife can mistake the fragments for food. I’ve turned away contracts over this. It’s not a marketing line. It’s a line I don’t cross, and I never will.
What happens to the balloons afterwards
Everything I use gets taken down and taken away — I never leave a venue with balloons left behind, released or otherwise. Thousands get salvaged and reused every year rather than binned, and what can’t be reused is recycled through a national company that specialises in recycling balloons. Nothing goes to landfill that doesn’t have to. You can read more on my commitment to the environment page.
Even the helium is responsible
The helium I use is recovered as a by-product from MRI machines rather than freshly mined — a detail most decorators never mention, mostly because they’ve never thought to ask. It’s a small thing on its own, but it’s part of a business built to leave as light a footprint as the balloons themselves.
What to ask any decorator
Ask three questions: is it natural latex or foil? Do you release balloons, ever? What happens to everything afterwards? Any decorator who can’t answer clearly and honestly hasn’t thought about it properly — and if they can’t tell you where the helium comes from, they’ve never asked either. It also helps to choose a decorator who belongs to a trade body such as the Balloon and Party Industry Alliance, of which I’m one of the longest-serving members.
The honest answer
Balloon décor doesn’t have to cost the earth, and for 32 years mine hasn’t. Biodegradable latex, zero releases, everything salvaged, reused or recycled, and helium that’s already done a job before it reaches me. Spectacular and responsible aren’t opposites — they’re just a decision to make properly, every single time. Wondering what it all costs? See my 2026 balloon décor cost guide, or browse the FAQ page.
Quick answers
Yes — natural latex is made from rubber tree sap and biodegrades much like a leaf, provided it isn’t released and is disposed of properly afterwards.
No. Foil balloons are plastic-coated and don’t break down. Any “eco-friendly balloon” claim needs checking against the actual material before you believe it.
Never. Released balloons come down somewhere as litter and can harm wildlife — it’s a values decision, not a tone one.
Everything is taken down and taken away. Balloons are salvaged and reused where possible, and recycled through a national company that specialises in recycling balloons where not.
It can be, if the material is natural latex, nothing is released, and everything is disposed of properly afterwards. Ask your decorator all three questions before you book.
