Some states are looking to take the air out of balloon releases.

Governments in more than half-a-dozen states are considering legislation that would restrict balloon releases – an environmentally-motivated movement that could have implications for branded balloons sold in the promotional products market.

Arizona, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island are the states mulling bills that would limit the intentional release of large numbers of balloons, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Meanwhile, Texas could undertake a study that, in part, would look at the impact of potential balloon pollution.

Already, California, Connecticut, Florida, Tennessee and Virginia have laws on the books that ban or restrict balloon launches. Connecticut is currently considering making its law more robust; California’s regulations apply to foil balloons only.

Ban advocates say restrictions on balloon launches at occasions like weddings, sporting events, festivals, concerts, birthdays, memorials, military events and more are necessary because the released inflatables cause pollution and threaten wildlife. For instance, birds can become entangled in balloons, they say. When the balloons deflate and descend into the ocean, sea turtles can mistake them for jellyfish and eat them, ban advocates say.

More states aim to knock air out of festive balloon launches https://t.co/oaNDxjIEPS

— David Sharp (@David_Sharp_AP) April 28, 2019

The AP reported that the Balloon Council is not opposing efforts by state governments to enact launch restrictions. The New Jersey-based group, which represents balloon manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers, formerly opposed bans. The organization favors education about how to properly dispose of balloons.

"The Balloon Council feels that all balloons should be deflated and properly disposed of," spokeswoman Lorna O'Hara told the AP. "There is a heightened attention across the globe. We're rising to what's happening in the United States and globally."

Restrictions and bans on large-scale launches could potentially put a damper on sales of logoed balloons. Businesses that operate in the promo balloon niche have previously told Counselor that restrictions and bans paint an inaccurately broad, negative picture of balloons.

“If legislators place a ban on balloon launches, it will create some negative perception on using balloons. This will be perceived as balloons being unsafe, which is not correct,” Terry Brizz, president of Ohio-based Galaxy Balloons (asi/55675), told Counselor.

For instance, foil balloons should be avoided for launches because they are not biodegradable, but latex balloons are biodegradable, decomposing at about the same rate as an oak leaf, industry sources said.

“Most promotional consultants realize our biodegradable product is more natural and decomposes in lightning fashion, compared to almost everything else they sell to their clients,” said Pioneer Balloons’ (asi/78200) Mark Jenkins.

Latex balloons are made from the sap of rubber trees. “It’s 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,” Brizz said. “A latex balloon is made from 100% organic material and is 100% biodegradable.”

Some sellers of branded balloons in the promotional products market have also said that balloon launches constitute a relatively small amount of business. “We don’t promote mass balloon launches and haven’t for decades,” Jenkins told Counselor in a Tuesday email.

He further noted that there are “smart balloon use” practices that can present additional promotional opportunities, such as using other promo products to tether down helium balloons. “While inexpensive balloon weights (the same you find in retail settings) are certainly available from manufacturers like us, there are a myriad of options to creatively use other promotional products in a brand-friendly solution for tethering balloons,” said Jenkins, pointing to items like “chip clips”, pens/markers and drinkware with handles.