Did you know that balloons are a natural product and are made of natural rubber latex?

The latex used in balloons is biodegradable and comes from the sustainably grown Hevea brasiliensis tree, commonly known as the rubber tree. The latex is tapped from the bark, causing no harm to the tree. When balloons are used and disposed of properly, they have minimal impact on the environment. In fact, according to data from the International Coastal Cleanup® (ICC), balloons account for less than 1% of all debris found during beach cleanups in the U.S. since 2015.

Here are three tips to make sure your next celebration is as eco-conscious as possible:

• Use high-quality, natural latex balloons. These are thicker and responsibly made either in the U.S., Europe, or South America.

• When using helium-filled foil balloons, make sure you’re following proper tie-down and disposal procedure. The Coalition for Responsible Celebration cautions to never release foil balloons as they do conduct electricity and can cause power outages.

• Balloons that are professional-grade, filled, and handled properly can last a really long time indoors, why dispose of them right away when you can keep the party going for weeks?