This briefing covers the packaging rules, compostability standards, and chemical restrictions that apply to a balloon program in the US and Canada. It is written for B2B importers and retail buyers. 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, 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.
For Brand Owners
How SB 54 affects a foil balloon program in California, what documentation a retail buyer will request, and how the material choice affects shelf access.
For Procurement Teams
The difference between the European and US compostability standards, the test reports we hold, and what a program has to specify.
1. The Regulatory Shift in North American Sourcing
In the US and Canada, the balloon supply chain is under more regulatory attention than in past years. Historically, a distributor or a supermarket category in the US sourced conventional Mylar balloons made from BOPET without much environmental oversight. State-level packaging laws and public attention on microplastics have changed that. Compliance is now a supply chain parameter, not a marketing option.
From California's packaging mandates to state-level single-use limits, the compliance requirements on a BOPET balloon program have grown. A supplier declaration without supporting laboratory reports is no longer enough for a retail buyer. Depending on the market and the product claim, a program may face a recall, a fine, or a delisting.
For a supermarket category buyer or a regional party distributor that supplies a seasonal program, this matters most. If a product line does not meet the local packaging or chemical rules, the liability sits with the importer of record.
In the US, a distributor that markets a traditional polyester foil balloon as "biodegradable" or "eco-friendly" without supporting third-party laboratory documentation is exposed to FTC Green Guides action. A supplier declaration is not a valid compliance shield. The claim has to match a test report.
2. Compostability Standards: What the US and EU Require
To market a product as "compostable" in the United States, the material has to meet the parameters of a compostability standard. The main US standard is ASTM D6400. The main European standard is EN 13432. Both require a set of physical, biological, and eco-toxicity criteria under controlled testing.
A compostability standard generally requires three things.
- Physical disintegration. The material has to fragment during the test cycle in a managed composting environment, leaving less than a defined percentage of the dry weight on a sieve.
- Biological degradation. The polymer has to mineralize under microbial action. The standard defines a minimum percentage of organic carbon conversion to carbon dioxide, water, and biomass within a test period.
- Eco-toxicity verification. The resulting compost is tested for heavy metal limits and for plant growth compared with a control compost, so that no toxic residue persists.
The Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) is a third-party certification program in the US that verifies compliance with ASTM D6400. Some US municipalities require BPI certification before a product can be marketed as compostable. ASTM D6400 and EN 13432 are the standards a US or EU program may require. The report we hold for the compostable line is ISO 14855-1:2012, which is a distinct standard. See our SGS report coverage page for detail.
Our compostable line uses a PLA-PBAT-nanoclay co-extruded film. The specific report we hold is ISO 14855-1:2012 under SGS report number 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.
3. California SB 54: EPR and Packaging Mandates
California's Senate Bill 54 (SB 54), the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act, is one of the more stringent packaging laws in the US. It operates under an Extended Producer Responsibility model. A company that imports or sells covered plastic packaging or single-use items in California joins a Producer Responsibility Organization and pays eco-modulated fees. The law sets milestones that a multi-year supply plan should account for. The figures below are as of publication and subject to change.
2027: EPR mitigation funding
SB 54 sets an annual funding requirement from plastic producers and importers to fund eco-mitigation. The tax structure is tied to the non-recyclable plastic content of the materials introduced to the state. The applicable classification and fee for a given product are confirmed at quotation stage.
2030: Eco-modulated fee escalation
The fee structure escalates for single-use items that do not meet source reduction or recyclability targets. That puts a multi-layer non-recyclable composite such as BOPET in a higher fee class and changes the cost comparison against a compostable alternative.
2032: 100% recyclable or compostable; 25% source reduction
Covered packaging and single-use items sold or distributed in California have to be recyclable or industrial compostable, and single-use plastic components have to be reduced by 25% by weight and item count.
A traditional non-recyclable BOPET foil balloon falls into a higher fee class under SB 54, which changes the landed cost of a program. A certified compostable film changes the classification. The classification and fee for a given product are confirmed at quotation stage against the current program rules.
For the material comparison behind this, see our compostable vs latex comparison and our sourcing economics and plastic tax briefing.
4. Chemical and Heavy Metal Safety
Beyond end-of-life behavior, a North American balloon program has to meet chemical safety rules. The Model Toxics in Packaging Legislation, adopted in several US states, restricts lead, cadmium, mercury, and hexavalent chromium in packaging. The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) sets limits on lead and phthalates in children's products. A buyer should confirm the material profile against the rules of the destination market.
The compostable line uses a PLA resin derived from renewable feedstock, which reduces the heavy metal contamination pathways that are common in petrochemical polymer production. The specific chemical report we hold is RoHS (EU) 2015/863 under SGS report number 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 for detail.
| Substance Group | US Packaging Reference | Report Coverage | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead (Pb) | Restricted under state packaging rules | Covered under SGS SHAHG2207652301 scope | Pass on tested sample |
| Cadmium (Cd) | Restricted under state packaging rules | Covered under SGS SHAHG2207652301 scope | Pass on tested sample |
| Mercury (Hg) | Restricted under state packaging rules | Covered under SGS SHAHG2207652301 scope | Pass on tested sample |
| Hexavalent Chromium (CrVI) | Restricted under state packaging rules | Covered under SGS SHAHG2207652301 scope | Pass on tested sample |
| Phthalates (DEHP, DBP, BBP, DIBP) | Restricted under CPSIA and RoHS | Covered under SGS SHAHG2207652301 scope | Pass on tested sample |
A report dossier supports the customs and retail review process, which can reduce border inspection delays. All our printed films also run against the EN71 coverage page for the safety side. Coverage of a specific SKU by any of these reports is confirmed at quotation stage.
5. Production Controls for a North American Program
At Kunshan Fair Craft Products Co., Ltd. (FAIR), we run OEM and ODM programs for distributors and retail chains. The production factors that matter most for a North American program come down to inspection, tooling, and storage.
Batch pressure inspection
Samples from each finished batch are held under pressure for a controlled inspection window before packing. Units that show a pressure drop are isolated. The inspection window and pass criteria for a given order are confirmed at quotation stage against the buyer's QC profile.
CAD/CNC tooling for custom shapes
Custom shapes go through CAD modeling and CNC tooling. Rotogravure printing handles multi-color graphics for private label programs. Tooling type, MOQ, and lead time for a given design are confirmed at quotation stage.
Storage and transit controls
PLA-PBAT film is hydrolytically sensitive, so it can degrade prematurely if exposed to high moisture and temperature. Bulk shipments are packed with moisture-barrier materials and desiccant. The storage temperature and humidity range for a given order are confirmed at quotation stage.
Container Consolidation
We can consolidate a balloon shipment with non-plastic accessories such as paper sticks, PLA bio-cups, and non-metallic weights from a single container load. The consolidation and packing configuration for a given order are confirmed at quotation stage. See our B2B shipping and logistics FAQ for detail.
FAIR is a member of the Pro Environment Balloon Alliance (PEBA) and supports the alliance's code of conduct on balloon releases.
6. 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. See our EN71 coverage page.
- RoHS (EU) 2015/863 — SGS report number SHAHG2207652301. Coverage: tested DEGRADING BALLOON sample. The report documents restriction testing for lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, PBBs, and certain phthalate plasticizers. Coverage of a specific SKU is confirmed at quotation stage. See our RoHS coverage page.
- 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. ISO 14855-1:2012 is a distinct standard from EN 13432. See our SGS report coverage page.
- PEBA member — Pro Environment Balloon Alliance member.
Certifications and test reports we do NOT hold:
- ISO 9001 — 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
- US CONEG — not held
7. North American Compliance FAQ
Requesting compliance documentation, a sample set, or a quotation for a North American 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