Where do Latex Balloons Come from?
Where do Latex Balloons Come from?
Did you know latex balloons come from trees? That’s right! They grow on trees, well… from the goo tapped out of the rubber tree. Specifically, from the Hevea tree. Rubber plantations are found in Brazil, Malaysia and Africa. With the majority of the world’s latex coming from Malaysia and Africa.
I know what you’re thinking…
This means latex balloons are 100% biodegradable. It takes on average the same amount of time to break down as it does an oak leaf. The amount of sunlight, water, heat, etc will determine precisely how long it takes to decompose- but anywhere from 3 months to 6 years.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO FROM THE BALLOON COUNCIL
Latex Balloons come from the Hevea Rubber Tree.
I have not had the priviledge to visit a rubber plantation but did get to see a few rubber trees at the Botanical Gardens when I was in Hawaii! I was so grateful, as I have made a living from the products of that tree for many years!!
So, how do they do it?
The sap from the rubber tree is harvested much in the same way as maple syrup. A farmer will score the trunk of the tree with shallow cuts. They will then place buckets underneath the cuts to collect the latex sap that oozes out. The latex is collected and filtered and then mixed with an anticoagulant and dyes. A balloon shaped mold is then dipped into the liquid latex. This is done in a mass batch production line. The molds are heated, dipped, ring formed, excess debris cleaned off, cured, removed, and packaged.
To learn more on how balloons are made visit HOW PRODUCTS ARE MADE
To check out a quick video on how latex balloons are made CLICK HERE
Always string, weight, and dispose of properly.
At Party Perks, we follow and encourage safe balloon practices. As founder and Lead Creative, I took the pledge and follow guidelines from the Balloon Council. I always recommend proper disposal of your balloons. Just because they can break down doesn’t mean its okay to just let them go. Make sure to pop and either compost or dispose of balloons always.