Sustainability Policy

1. Purpose

This policy sets out Balloonista’s commitments to reducing our environmental impact and operating responsibly within the event decor industry. It is written in line with the UK Competition and Markets Authority’s Green Claims Code and ASA guidance on environmental claims in advertising.

We believe the balloon and event industry should communicate its environmental practices honestly. This policy describes what we actually do — not what we aspire to, and not what sounds impressive in marketing.

2. Scope

This policy applies to all Balloonista operations, including corporate installations, private event decor, gift deliveries, logistics, and office operations. It covers our London studio, our delivery vans, our material suppliers, and our client-facing practices.

3. Our commitments

3.1 Independent environmental management

Balloonista is certified to ISO 14001, an internationally recognised standard for environmental management systems. This means we have documented processes in place to identify our environmental impact, set improvement targets, and audit our performance against them. Certification is independently assessed and renewed on a regular cycle.

3.2 Electric delivery vans

Our London deliveries are made by our own electric vans. This reduces tailpipe emissions in central London and supports our ULEZ-zone deliveries. We will continue to specify electric vehicles for any future vehicle additions.

3.3 Nationwide courier partnerships

For deliveries outside London, we use DPD as our primary courier partner. We recognise that the environmental credentials of third-party couriers vary and are updated independently by those providers. We do not make claims on DPD’s behalf; clients are welcome to review DPD’s own published environmental commitments.

3.4 No untethered outdoor use

We do not supply balloons for outdoor untethered use under any circumstances. Letting balloons go outdoors is environmentally irresponsible and can harm wildlife, livestock and ecosystems when balloons or ribbons return to land or water. We refuse all such requests, regardless of fee offered.

3.5 Waste reduction and reuse

We prioritise reusable infrastructure wherever design allows. Frames, stands, backdrops and structural components are broken down after installations and reused across future builds rather than being treated as single-use. We plan builds to minimise over-inflation, off-cuts, and unused stock.

3.6 Reuse and donation

Where installations are suitable for reuse, we donate decor components to local charities and community organisations, or use them for internal training. This extends the life of materials beyond a single event.

3.7 Responsible sourcing

We source professional-grade latex balloons from reputable European manufacturers who test for safety and quality and follow responsible production standards. Latex is natural rubber harvested from the Hevea Brasiliensis tree, which is not damaged by the harvesting process. We are transparent with clients about which components contain plastic (foil and bubble balloons) and can suggest alternatives or reusable options where available.

3.8 End of life

Balloons are made for a celebration rather than for keeps. When ours have had their day, the latex is collected under our commercial waste contract with SUEZ.

3.9 Packaging

Balloons arrive flat from suppliers, which minimises shipping volume. We recycle packaging materials where local facilities exist and favour suppliers who use minimal or reusable packaging.

4. What we do not claim

In the interest of transparency, we want to be clear about what this policy is not:

• We do not claim to be a zero-waste or audited low-impact business. No balloon decor business honestly can be.
• We do not describe our balloons as “ISO 14001 compliant”, “sustainable”, “responsibly designed” or “guilt-free”. These terms are vague and unsubstantiated under UK advertising guidance.
• We do not claim latex balloons are “responsibly sourced” as a standalone marketing claim. Latex can biodegrade under specific composting conditions, but “responsibly sourced” does not mean “safe to release” and we do not use it to imply environmental harmlessness.
• We do not make comparative claims that balloons are “more ISO 14001 compliant” than flowers, paper decor, or other alternatives. Each option carries its own environmental footprint and we encourage clients to make informed choices based on their specific circumstances.

5. Accountability and review

This policy is reviewed annually by Balloonista’s Creative Director. Progress against ISO 14001 targets is audited as part of the certification renewal cycle. If any commitment in this policy ceases to be factually accurate (for example, if vehicle composition changes), the policy will be updated immediately rather than at the next scheduled review.

Updated 30 August 2026: end-of-life wording corrected to match the contracted waste streams.

Clients, suppliers or members of the public who wish to raise a concern about our environmental practices can contact us directly at info@balloonista.com.

6. Regulatory framework

This policy has been written with reference to:

• UK Competition and Markets Authority — Green Claims Code
• Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) — CAP Code guidance on environmental claims
• ISO 14001:2015 — Environmental Management Systems