BY HEJIRA CONVERY, KINDICARE

FEBRUARY 17, 2025  

Balloons and glitter make the world bright and sparkly, and although we’ve wizened up to the fact that glitter is a form of microplastic that delights for a moment and lasts for an eon, balloons don’t get such a bad rap. 

They’re bouncy and fun, with a colour palette to delight any party planner, and kids of all ages absolutely love them!  

Even a basic balloon is entertaining to keep up-up-uppy, and when you twist one into a unicorn, string up a balloon arch, or add confetti and helium, these things go next level. 

However, it is important to know that balloons aren’t great for our wildlife or our world.  

Clean Up Australia reminds us that escaped balloons are litter, which can easily end up in the mouths of birds, sea creatures and other wildlife. 

And although some balloons are marketed as biodegradable, Clean Up Australia’s CEO, Jenny Geddes, explains that, “Most balloons don’t actually break down that much over time.  

“When scientists tested the eco-friendliness of different balloon brands in 2020, they found that the majority did not break down enough to be called biodegradable or eco-friendly.” 

Fortunately, there are some fun substitutes for the bouncy balloon! 

Crepe streamers are easy to string up in primary colours and dreamy pastels, but if you’re feeling creative, here are some balloon alternatives suggested by Clean Up Australia.

1. Bubbles 

Little kids love bubbles, and these glistening, floaty wonders are easy to make, chase, pop, and make again!  

To create your own bubble solution, simply mix: 

• 1 tablespoon of green/eco-friendly dish detergent 

• 4 tablespoons of water 

• 2 tablespoons of honey or sugar 

Let the mix sit for a few hours (or preferably overnight), then use an upcycled bubble wand to blow beautiful bubbles all over the place.  

You can create a party-sized quantity of bubble mix by doubling or tripling the recipe, and the green team says you can also make your own bubble wand using two sticks and some string.  

To do this: 

• Cut the length of string into two pieces – one longer than the other.  

• Tie both pieces of string to the sticks, so that the longer piece hangs lower and the shorter one is quite taut.  

• Dip the string into the bubble mix, then hold it up to see a balloon-sized bubble emerge!  

2. Bunting 

While you’ve got that ball of string handy, you can also make some bunting. 

The good thing about bunting is that you don’t have to be super crafty to create something eye-catching.  

With a triangular template, scissors and three types of patterned paper, you can easily make some beautiful paper bunting.  

Origami is an option if you want to get a little trickier, and if you’re handy with a sewing machine, then you’ll be able to whip up some long-life bunting using pieces of colourful fabric and ribbon. 

There’s also no obligation to stick with the classic triangle style of bunting.  

Your flags can be any shape you like, including balloon-shaped, and there’s the option of personalising the bunting to spell out a message, like ‘Happy 4th Birthday, Max!’  

3. Pom-poms 

Early learners have a lot of fun dancing with cheerleader-style poms-poms, and these colourful fluff balls are great for parties – as decorations and playthings. 

To make a tissue paper pom-pom, follow this tutorial (substituting string for wire if you like). 

And if you have crepe paper in your craft box, then this tutorial is easy and awesome too.  

4. Kites 

Depending on the age of your guests, kite-making and decorating can be a fun party activity, and even if you assemble them ahead of time, homemade kites have the colourful, flighty appeal of balloons, without the environmental impact.   

All you need is paper, tape (like this greener sticky type) and your trusty ball of string!  

Some kite designs use sticks as well, but this simple design is sweet because it leaves a heart-shaped shadow on the ground in certain lights.  

All of these balloon alternatives will help to keep rubbery litter out of our environment, and if you’re keen to Clean Up the rubbish that’s already around, then now’s an especially good time to do so!  

This year, we’re celebrating the 35th birthday of Clean Up Australia Day, and you can get a party of people together any day to do a Clean Up

For more info, check out www.cleanup.org.au