B‑Loony is pleased to have been recognised with a Plastic Free Award from Surfers Against Sewage, reflecting the company’s continued work to reduce single‑use plastics and promote more responsible material choices across its product range and within the wider balloon and promotional merchandise industry.

Presented in March 2026, the award acknowledges several years of steady, practical progress and a commitment to integrating sustainability into the company’s operations.

Supporting Natural Rubber Balloons

For more than 45 years, B‑Loony has championed the use of natural rubber latex balloons as a renewable, plantation‑sourced material. Throughout this time, the company has worked with customers, event organisers and industry bodies to highlight the value of choosing high‑quality natural rubber balloons that comply with strict UK and EU safety standards.

The award also recognises B‑Loony’s long‑standing support for responsible balloon usage and the guidance promoted through the EBPC and BPMA.

Replacing Plastic Balloon Sticks with BalloonGrip™

A key contributor to the award was B‑Loony’s development of BalloonGrip™—the world’s first paper‑based, plastic‑free balloon holder designed as an alternative to traditional plastic balloon sticks.

BalloonGrip™ offers a practical solution for events, retail settings and brand activations, allowing balloons to be distributed without the need for single‑use plastic components. Millions of units have been supplied globally, demonstrating how thoughtful design can help reduce plastic use across the sector.

Sustainability Improvements Across the Business

The award also reflects a range of internal initiatives undertaken at B‑Loony’s Chesham facility to lessen environmental impact, including:

• Increasing the use of responsibly sourced materials for products flags, bunting and food‑service disposables.
• Reducing plastic packaging by switching to paper‑based alternatives wherever feasible.
• Investing in recycling systems, waste‑reduction processes and improved material‑efficiency technologies.
• Embedding sustainability principles across procurement, production, sales and marketing through staff training and awareness programmes.
• Developing new product ranges focused on reusable or paper‑based alternatives to support customer sustainability targets.

These measures demonstrate the company’s commitment to making practical, meaningful improvements across its operations.

A Constructive Step for the Industry

Though a modest accolade, the Plastic Free Award represents a positive milestone for both B‑Loony and the wider balloon sector. It highlights what can be achieved through responsible material choices, continuous innovation and collaboration with organisations focused on reducing single‑use plastics.

B‑Loony will continue working with the BPMA, EBPC and industry partners to promote best practice and encourage the wider adoption of plastic‑free alternatives across celebratory and promotional products.