This briefing covers the degradation behavior of our compostable PLA-PBAT film in different waste streams. The standards we hold for the compostable line are EN71 (SGS report SHTY130500007975-01), RoHS (EU) 2015/863 (SGS report SHAHG2207652301), and ISO 14855-1:2012 (SGS report SHMR220700361301). We do not hold ASTM D6400, BPI, EN 13432, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ASTM F963, REACH, US CPSIA, or California Prop 65 documentation. For a program that requires one of those, tell us up front and we will confirm whether it can be arranged.
A compostable PLA-PBAT balloon film does not behave the same way in every environment. In an industrial composting facility, the material breaks down within the test period. In a home compost pile, the temperature is usually too low for the same reaction to run at a similar rate, so the material degrades much more slowly. In a dry landfill, the film remains largely intact. That is the plain answer, and a B2B buyer should understand it before making a "compostable" claim at retail. This briefing covers the chemistry behind those differences, the standards we hold, and the disposal guidance we provide to program partners.
For Brand Owners
What a "compostable" claim means in practice, how home and industrial composting differ, and what language a retail program should use in its product info.
For Procurement Teams
The PLA-PBAT chemistry, the standards we hold for the compostable line, and the storage and shelf-life parameters that apply to a program.
1. Polymer Chemistry: The PLA-PBAT Matrix
The physical performance and the eventual degradation behavior of a compostable foil balloon come from its film structure. A traditional BOPET Mylar balloon is a petrochemical film. Our compostable line uses a multi-layer PLA-PBAT film with a nanoclay barrier. The composite is built on three components.
Polylactic acid (PLA)
Derived from renewable agricultural starches such as corn starch or sugarcane. PLA provides stiffness, optical clarity, and tensile strength. On its own, PLA is brittle and more permeable to gas than a legacy film, so it is blended with a second polymer.
Polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT)
A compostable copolyester. Its ester linkages are susceptible to microbial enzymatic cleavage, which is what allows the film to break down in a managed composting environment. Blending PBAT with PLA adds flexibility, elongation, and impact resistance. The blend ratio for a given film grade is confirmed at quotation stage.
Nanoclay dispersion
To reduce helium migration without the aluminum layer, the film includes organically modified clay platelets dispersed at sub-micron scale through the PLA-PBAT matrix. The platelets align during film blowing and create a longer, less direct route for gas molecules through the film. That is what gives the compostable line a commercial retention window. For the barrier mechanism, see the PLA-PBAT whitepaper.
When the film is exposed to the right combination of heat, moisture, and microbial activity, the ester bonds in the PLA and PBAT chains undergo hydrolytic cleavage. The long chains break into lower-molecular-weight fragments, which soil microorganisms can then consume.
2. Decomposition Behavior by Environment
The degradation rate of the PLA-PBAT film is not a fixed number. It depends on the temperature, moisture, oxygen availability, and microbial activity in the environment. The table below compares the four main environments a balloon may end up in. The figures below are for reference; the retention and shelf-life parameters for a given program are confirmed at quotation stage.
| Environment | Temperature | Typical Timeline | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Industrial composting | 55°C – 60°C | Within the test period | Verified under ISO 14855-1:2012 (SGS report SHMR220700361301). This is the intended end point for the compostable line. |
| Home composting | 20°C – 30°C | A longer window | Temperature is usually too low to trigger rapid hydrolysis, so the material degrades much more slowly than in an industrial facility. |
| Dry anaerobic landfill | Ambient | A longer window | The film remains largely intact. Because the material does not readily degrade anaerobically, it is not a significant methane source in a dry landfill. |
| Open environment (marine, soil surface) | Ambient | A longer window | Degradation is slow. A release into the environment remains a physical risk to wildlife regardless of the material. PEBA does not support balloon releases. |
3. Home vs. Industrial Composting: Why Temperature Matters
A common misconception is that a material labeled "biodegradable" can simply be placed in a backyard compost bin. That is not how the chemistry works for a PLA-PBAT film, and a B2B program should not imply that it does.
Our compostable film is designed for an industrial composting facility. A managed industrial pile generates heat through bacterial metabolism and holds a sustained thermophilic range. That temperature range is critical because it exceeds the glass transition temperature of PLA (around 55°C). Once the material passes that threshold, three things happen.
- The rigid crystalline structure of the PLA chains transitions into a more flexible state.
- Water molecules can penetrate the amorphous regions of the polymer more easily.
- Hydrolytic cleavage of the ester bonds accelerates, breaking the polymer into lower-molecular-weight fragments that thermophilic microorganisms can consume.
In a home compost pile, the temperature usually stays close to ambient and rarely holds a thermophilic range for a sustained period. The PLA remains in its rigid state, which limits water penetration and microbial activity. The film will fragment slowly over a much longer window, but it will not reach the same end point within the same timeframe. A distributor should state plainly that home composting is not the recommended disposal method for the compostable line.
4. Landfill Behavior: What Happens if the Balloon Is Not Composted
In practice, a share of consumer waste, including some compostable packaging, ends up in a municipal solid waste landfill. A B2B buyer may be asked what happens to a compostable balloon in that scenario.
A modern landfill is a dry, oxygen-deprived environment. When an organic material such as food waste or a natural rubber latex balloon degrades anaerobically, the process can release methane, which is a potent greenhouse gas. A PLA-PBAT film behaves differently under those conditions.
- A landfill does not provide the moisture or the sustained temperature that PLA hydrolysis needs, so degradation of the film is very slow.
- Because the film does not readily degrade anaerobically, it is not a significant methane source in a dry landfill over the relevant window.
- The carbon in the film remains within the material rather than being released as gas. The balloon behaves as a stable carbon block rather than a methane source.
Industrial composting is the intended end point for the compostable line. A landfill disposal has a different end-of-life profile than a legacy BOPET balloon, which persists as plastic and fragments into microplastics over a very long period. The material comparison for the compostable line is in our compostable vs latex comparison.
5. Compliance and Documentation
To market a product as "compostable" in a regulated market, the claim has to match a test report. A supplier declaration alone is not enough. The reports we hold for the compostable line are below.
Compostability (ISO 14855-1:2012)
The specific report we hold is SGS report SHMR220700361301. The report covers a PLA degrading balloon sample tested under controlled industrial composting conditions. Test material average biodegradation was 77.8% within a 45-day test period. ISO 14855-1:2012 is a distinct standard from EN 13432. See our SGS report coverage page.
Chemical safety (RoHS (EU) 2015/863)
The report we hold is SGS report SHAHG2207652301. The report documents restriction testing for lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, PBBs, and certain phthalate plasticizers on the tested DEGRADING BALLOON sample. Coverage of a specific SKU is confirmed at quotation stage. See our RoHS coverage page.
Toy safety (EN71)
The report we hold is SGS report SHTY130500007975-01, which covers a foil balloon sample against EN71 Parts 1, 2, and 3. Coverage of a specific SKU is confirmed at quotation stage. See our EN71 coverage page.
PEBA code of conduct
FAIR is a member of the Pro Environment Balloon Alliance (PEBA) and supports the alliance's code of conduct on balloon releases. We supply our program partners with materials to pass the "Pin It and Bin It" practice on to end customers.
6. Storage and Shelf Life for the Compostable Line
Because the film is hydrolytically sensitive, storage conditions are part of the specification. A warehouse that is warm and humid will age the film faster than a climate-controlled one.
The two parameters that matter most are temperature and relative humidity. Keep bulk stock within the temperature and humidity range set for the specific film grade. The limits for a given order are confirmed at quotation stage. Keep master carton seals intact until the product is ready for use. For logistics detail, see our shipping and storage FAQ.
For a custom shape program, the mold and print setup for a given design are confirmed at quotation stage. Samples from each finished batch are held under pressure for a controlled inspection window before packing. The inspection window and pass criteria for a given order are confirmed at quotation stage against the buyer's QC profile.
For company background and production capability, see our About FAIR page.
7. Test Reports: What We Have and What We Do Not
Test reports we hold:
- EN71 — SGS report number SHTY130500007975-01. Coverage: foil balloon sample, EN71 Parts 1, 2, and 3. Coverage of a specific SKU is confirmed at quotation stage.
- RoHS (EU) 2015/863 — SGS report number SHAHG2207652301. Coverage: tested DEGRADING BALLOON sample. Coverage of a specific SKU is confirmed at quotation stage.
- Biodegradation (ISO 14855-1:2012) — SGS report number SHMR220700361301. Coverage: PLA degrading balloon sample under controlled industrial composting conditions. Test material average biodegradation 77.8% within a 45-day test period.
- PEBA member — Pro Environment Balloon Alliance member.
Certifications and test reports we do NOT hold:
- ISO 9001 — not held
- ISO 14001 — not held
- EN 13432 — not held. The report we hold for the biodegradable line is ISO 14855-1:2012, which is a distinct standard.
- ASTM D6400 — not held
- BPI — not held
- ASTM F963 — not held
- REACH — not held
- US CPSIA — not held
- California Prop 65 — not held
8. Composting and Disposal FAQ
Requesting test report copies, a sample set, or a quotation for a compostable balloon program?
Email xia@foilballoon.cnResponse within one business day · Sample service available
About FAIR — Kunshan Fair Craft Products Co., Ltd.
FAIR is a balloon manufacturer based in Kunshan, China, producing foil balloons, custom shaped foil balloons, PLA-based biodegradable foil balloons, and custom printed balloon products for global brands, event companies, retail chains, and wholesale novelty distributors. For inquiries: xia@foilballoon.cn