It's true. Releasing balloons into the environment has devastating consequences. That's why we will NEVER supply balloons for balloon releases.
But let's be honest for a moment. Every choice we make has an environmental impact. Fast fashion. Air travel. Takeaway coffee cups. Smartphones. If we're going to enjoy life's little luxuries, the least we can do is use them responsibly and minimise the impact wherever possible.
That's where we come in.
At Fancy That, we're committed to helping customers celebrate responsibly through balloon recycling & a strict no-balloon-release policy.
Myth Busting
"Balloons are plastic waste."
WRONG.
Latex balloons (the bulk of a balloon business's raw material) are made from natural rubber, not plastic. Natural rubber is a 100% renewable resource harvested from tapped rubber trees.
We primarily use Sempertex latex balloons, produced using natural latex sourced from approximately 250 small farming families in Colombia. These plantations promote sustainable land use while providing a steady source of income for local communities.
While latex balloons will eventually biodegrade, the process takes time. That's why we believe recycling is a better option whenever possible.
"Helium is a finite resource. Balloon businesses strip mine the earth for helium and take it away from hospitals."
RIGHT / WRONG / WRONG.
Helium is a finite resource. That's true.
However, the vast majority of the world's helium is recovered during natural gas extraction & processing. And if helium supplies become constrained, medical, scientific & industrial users receive priority access long before the balloon industry.
So, Don't be a Tosser - Recycle with Us!
At Fancy That, we believe great parties & environmental responsibility can go hand in hand. That's why we work with TerraCycle to offer a balloon recycling program for balloons originally purchased from our store.
When the fun is done, bring your balloons back to us. Latex balloons, foil balloons, bubble balloons, confetti-filled balloons, even ribbons, can all be dropped into our TerraCycle collection program rather than ending up in landfill.
The collected materials are sent to TerraCycle, specialists in recycling hard-to-recycle waste streams that aren't typically accepted through standard kerbside recycling programs. These materials are then processed into raw materials that can be used to manufacture new products, helping to reduce waste & support a more circular economy. We also reuse your returned balloon weights & transport bags.
It's a simple way to make your celebration a little more sustainable. Purchase your balloons from Fancy That, enjoy them to the fullest, then return them when you're finished & we'll take care of the rest.
Please note: This recycling program is free for our customers, but not for us. For that reason, we are not a general public drop-off point. The service is available exclusively for balloons originally purchased from Fancy That.
