Queen Anne’s County has become the first county in Maryland to ban balloon releases – an environmentally motivated prohibition that’s part of a growing movement to bar larger-scale launches of the inflatables. The bans could have implications for the promotional products industry.

Commissioners for the Eastern Shore county recently approved the restriction, which bars releases of nonbiodegradable helium balloons. The prohibition takes aim at larger-scale planned releases – like those associated with homecomings, graduation parties, weddings, sporting events, festivals, military events, gender reveal parties and the like.

Ban proponents say that balloon releases cause pollution and endanger wildlife. Once the balloons land, animals can choke on them or become entangled in their strings. "The balloons with these ribbons, once they’re caught in an animal, it’s a death sentence. They can’t get out of the ribbons. It’s a widespread problem," Jeff Falstad, executive director of the Queen Anne's Conservation Association, told WBALTV 11.

With a unanimous vote Tuesday, Queen Anne’s County became the first in the state to ban the intentional release of non-biodegradable balloons into the atmosphere which results in pollution of the environment and has been shown to be harmful to wildlife. pic.twitter.com/Ewdto5x6ha

— Queen Anne's County (@QACGOV) August 28, 2019

Already, California, Connecticut, Florida, Tennessee and Virginia have laws on the books that ban or restrict balloon launches. Other states, including New York and Arizona, are considering bans. Meanwhile, some 12 U.S. cities, including Baltimore, reportedly prohibit balloon releases.

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 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.

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.

The Balloon Council is not opposing efforts to enact launch restrictions. The New Jersey-based group, which represents balloon manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers, formerly opposed bans. But now, the organization says balloons should not be released. “We stand with communities by encouraging that balloons be weighted, not released outdoors, and disposed of properly when broken or deflated,” the organization says in a statement. “Whether it's a single balloon or hundreds, let's keep them from flying away.”

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