|
Balloons and the Environment
|
NB if any balloon manufacturers read this
and disagree with any of my statements then please email
me |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Today all businesses have to consider the environmental
aspects of their activities. If they do not act then eventually their
customers will take the initiative and move their custom to more
"green" competitors. Or in the case of non-essential items like
balloons they might stop using them altogether! There is already concern
about Mylar balloons which are essentially non-biodegradeable. There
are also social issues to consider, such as the treatment of workers in
factories and in places where the raw materials are produced such as
rubber plantations. |
Mylar balloon
found in
the desert
in California |
|
|
See what a typical customer might ask, meet Mrs
Mildley-Greene: many of our customers are from charities
or other non-profit organisations. They are socially responsible people
and sooner or later are going to start asking awkward questions.
|
|
|
|
Or, even worse, the government or the EEC will pass laws and
impose regulation. See The
California Balloon Law as an example of things to come. Don't forget
that California began to impose pollution control on cars way back in the
1960's and the UK only adopted regulation in the late 1980's. The West
Coast of the USA often gives us a glimpse of our own future. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Besides thinking about the environmental impact of products
such as balloons companies must expect questions from their customers
about the sourcing of the goods which they sell and about the ethical
standards of the suppliers. For food and other products the Fairtrade
symbol has become well-known. It reassures the consumer that the workers
and farmers involved in producing the goods are treated well
and have some share in the wealth created. |
 |
|
|
|
a Fairtrade football - so why not balloons
too? |
|
|
We often think about the environmental effects of a product
in terms of what happens to it when it is disposed of after
use. However we should also consider the environmental damage
caused by its manufacture and also by the extraction or growing of the
materials used to make it. If you include "Fairtrade"
considerations then things get quite complex! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See the aims of the Fairtrade
organisation, they have
separate requirements for growers and for factory workers |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
