Scientists at Imperial College London have created what they claim is the world's first fully biodegradable party balloon. The new balloon, called Bioloon, is said to break down within nine months, addressing concerns about standard balloons that can take years to degrade and potentially release harmful chemicals.
Co-inventor Juliana Cumming, a PhD researcher at Imperial, stated that regular balloons are treated with a process that makes them strong but also prevents full degradation and causes toxic chemicals to leach into the environment. In contrast, Bioloon uses a process that joins biodegradable materials without additives, allowing it to break down completely.
The research was partly funded by party planner Charlotte Melia, who expressed concerns about the environmental impact of balloon litter, particularly on marine wildlife. A recent study indicated that balloon fragments are the marine debris most likely to kill seabirds that ingest them, being 32 times more likely to result in death than hard plastic.
The scientists reported that Bioloon starts with the same rubber material as standard balloons but employs a method that links polymer chains without harmful additives. The team expects the product to be commercially available within two years.