Blowing in the wind, humble balloon gets green makeover

A green revolution for the humble balloon

A global symbol of parties and celebrations but an environmental headache, the humble balloon is undergoing a green revolution thanks to UK researchers. Researchers at Imperial College London say they have developed the first fully biodegradable balloon and hope to bring it to market within two years.

Juliana Cumming, a PhD student at the university and co-creator of the "Bioloon", described the development process: "So there was hundreds of trials. We had many, many failures." In a university laboratory, the 29-year-old showed a flask containing a precious yellow liquid that, once solidified, becomes a soft, elastic material with a texture comparable to that of a conventional balloon. But there is one crucial difference: it breaks down completely within nine months, unlike traditional balloons, Cumming said.

The Bioloon is the result of a public-private partnership launched by Charlotte Melia, an events entrepreneur who describes herself as environmentally minded. "I was a party planner for over 10 years and ... I was very sustainably focused. The final stumbling block for me was the balloon waste," she said. "We were putting out thousands of party balloons every single week," she added, noting they were only there "for a matter of hours simply to be popped and thrown in the trash". The final straw came when she realised balloons were non-biodegradable even though the packaging said they would break up "at the rate of an oak leaf".

Convinced that a sustainable alternative was possible, Melia and an associate put up some £30,000 (approximately $41,000 or RM165,000) to part fund Cumming's doctoral research.

The environmental problem with traditional balloons

The environmental impact of traditional balloons, which despite their advertising do not degrade, is largely unknown to the general public. But a number of studies have documented the dangers posed by balloons once they end up in nature, particularly for marine life and birds. A 2019 study by the University of Tasmania, published in Scientific Reports, found balloons were "the highest-risk plastic debris item" for seabirds, carrying a mortality risk 32 times higher than ingesting hard plastics.

Imperial College's department of chemical engineering estimates that between 20 and 25 billion balloons are purchased worldwide every year.

The problem lies in how traditional balloons are made. Natural latex derived from the sap of the rubber tree has been used for balloons since the balloon was invented in 1824. However, the sulphur vulcanisation process adds sulphur accelerators, antioxidants, and activators that prevent biodegradation and leak toxic chemicals into the environment.

A new formula

Cumming spent three years developing her formula for the Bioloon. The material is made with natural latex blended with another biodegradable polymer and does not include the additives used in traditional balloons. Researchers tested the Bioloon in soil, seawater, and deionised water; it degraded in all conditions, and they estimate it biodegrades within about nine months. The Bioloon inflates as easily as a conventional balloon.

The technology behind the Bioloon could be adapted for everyday and medical products, including household gloves, surgical gloves, latex clothing, and condoms.

Both Cumming and Melia expressed optimism about the product's potential, though they acknowledged the challenges ahead. As research continues, the team hopes to bring the Bioloon to market within two years, offering a sustainable alternative to an item that has long been a staple of celebrations but a burden on the environment.