Latex balloons & the environment

Here are some facts you may not have known about latex balloons:

1. They are made from natural latex harvested from rubber trees.  They are not made of plastic (although there are other kinds of balloons made of plastic or other materials). The pigments for the colour come from natural sources. 
2. Latex balloons are 100% biodegradable.  Since latex is a botanical ingredient from trees they can decompose in the same manner as other botanical materials such as leaves and grass.
3. Harvesting latex does not hurt the tree, just like collecting syrup for maple syrup.  The latex is collected in a cup (see image on the left).
4. Rubber trees are often planted among other trees like cacao, which help offer farmers more than one source of income. The rubber trees even protect the cacao tree, and have a synergistic relationship. 
5. Rubber trees are sustainable, and when grown with other trees in form an ecologically diverse region or farm. 
6. Rubber trees grow in rainforests and can live up to 40 years.  Since they are important economically to people who live in the regions they grow, they are left intact and help against deforestation.