In former days, nothing said celebration quite like a good old-fashioned balloon drop. Whether you were hosting a concert, announcing the grand opening of a retail store, or marking a special cultural holiday, balloon drops and releases of helium balloons seemed the way to go.

Then came the news of the environmental impact.

Balloons are hazards when they enter the environment.  All released balloons, whether they are released intentionally or not, return to Earth as ugly litter – including those marketed as “biodegradable latex.”  Balloons kill countless animals and cause dangerous power outages. They can travel thousands of miles and pollute the most remote and pristine places (ENC).

Celebrate Responsibly

If we’re going to celebrate responsibly, the time has come to consider alternatives to great masses of balloons.

Here are a few suggestions to get you started.

  • Lights. For concert venues and large-scale events, light shows can provide a spectacular alternative to balloon drops. For smaller events, even something as simple as dimming the lights and asking all participants to wave their lit cell phone screens in the air can create a simple, sustainable atmosphere of celebration.
  • Sound. Inspired by the grassroots efforts of Drumming Instead, more and more people have given up fireworks and other modes of celebration that use natural resources and harm the environment and have instead chosen to mark their celebration with a festival of drums. Whether you choose a grand performance or something more modest, you can easily and effectively replace your visual celebration with an audible one.
  • Nature. Instead of releasing potentially-harmful elements into nature, why not add to the natural beauty of your surroundings? You can plant a tree, release birds native to your location, or invest in large quantities of fresh flowers.

Get Creative

If none of these ideas suit your occasion or your budget, don’t stress. The list above is just intended to kick-start your imagination. Sit down with your team and brainstorm some ways to celebrate responsibly. 

The sky’s the limit — with or without balloons.