Two Main Types of Ballons

Two distinctly different types of balloons are manufactured and sold in America today—latex and mylar.

Latex balloons are produced from the sap of the rubber tree. It is collected without harming the tree by using an environmentally safe, age-old process similar to that used for collecting the sap from maple trees for syrup. Because of rubber’s versatility and demand, these tropical rainforest trees are very valuable, highly coveted—and well-protected natural resources. These precious trees play an equally valuable ecological role in the earth’s fragile ecological balance by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere which helps prevent global warming.

A latex balloon is made from 100 percent organic material and it’s 100 percent biodegradable. Stress caused by inflation starts this decomposition cycle. Exposure to sunlight accelerates the process—oxygen and ozone continue the molecular attack even in the dark.

Deterioration is clearly evident within a few hours—it begins to oxidize or “frost,” and soon the balloon will break apart. Research has shown that under similar conditions latex decomposes as quickly as an oak leaf.

The second type of balloon sold in the United States is commonly, but incorrectly, called mylar. It’s made from a metalized nylon (plastic) that is not biodegradable. Better known as silver balloons, they are much more expensive than their latex cousins and are never used in balloon releases.

Choking Hazard Warning

Children under 8-years old can choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons. Adult supervision is required. Keep uninflated balloons from children. Discard broken balloons at once.

Latex Allergies

Latex allergies present a moderate to serious health problem for a small percentage of the population in the United States. Unfortunately, public communications of the latex allergy facts often are mishandled and misleading, causing unnecessary alarm and controversy about latex balloons among the majority of us; so, a small population is at risk.

The American public can rest assured— they’ll not find the lovable latex balloon anywhere near the heart of the latex allergy problem.

For more balloon facts, please visit: https://www.balloonhq.com/BalloonCouncil/facts.html

The Balloon Council (TBC), an organization of retailers, distributors, and manufacturers was formed in 1990 to educate consumers and regulators about the wonders of metallic and latex balloons and the proper handling of them.

Written with permission from The Balloon Council