This briefing covers the degradation behavior of our compostable PLA-PBAT film in different waste streams and the standards we hold for the compostable line. The standards we hold 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, ASTM D5338, ASTM D6866, ASTM F1980, BPI, EN 13432, OECD 207, OECD 208, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ASTM F963, REACH, US CPSIA, California Prop 65, US CONEG, or FSC 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
What a "biodegradable" claim means in practice, how degradation differs by environment, and what language a retail program should use.
For Procurement Teams
The film structure, the degradation pathway by environment, the SGS report we hold, and the storage and transit parameters for a program.
A compostable PLA-PBAT film does not behave the same way in every environment. In an industrial composting facility, the film 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 film 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 "biodegradable" claim at retail. This briefing covers the chemistry, the film structure, the degradation pathway by environment, the SGS report we hold, and the storage and transit parameters that apply to a compostable program.
1. The Regulatory Shift in Global Sourcing
Governments in the European Union, the United Kingdom, the United States, and parts of Asia-Pacific have introduced single-use plastic rules that apply to novelty products. A conventional petroleum-based foil balloon uses a multi-layer PET film with an aluminum metallization layer. That material profile is difficult to recycle and now sits inside packaging tax and EPR programs in several markets.
The table below sets out the main programs that apply to a foil balloon program. The figures quoted are as of publication and are subject to change. A program should confirm the current rule before it ships into a market.
| Program | What it requires | Effect on a foil balloon program |
|---|---|---|
| EU Single-Use Plastics Directive | Directive (EU) 2019/904 sets EPR obligations for certain single-use items and requires member states to enforce them. National transposition varies by country. | A foil balloon falls into an EPR category in some member states. The classification and fee for a given product are confirmed at quotation stage against the destination country's rules. |
| UK Plastic Packaging Tax | A per-tonne charge on plastic packaging manufactured in or imported into the UK that contains less than a threshold percentage of recycled plastic by weight. The rate and threshold are set by HMRC and change over time. | A multi-layer virgin polymer film falls into the taxed category. A compostable film may qualify for a different classification. Confirm the current HMRC guidance before quoting. |
| California SB 54 | The Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act sets source reduction and recyclability or compostability targets for covered packaging and single-use items in California, and applies EPR fees through a Producer Responsibility Organization. | A non-recyclable multi-layer composite falls into a higher fee class. A compostable film may qualify for a more favorable class. The classification for a given product is confirmed at quotation stage. |
| California AB 847 (conductive materials) | Regulates conductive decorative materials in high fire-threat districts and establishes civil liability for a release event. | Applies to a metallized foil balloon in the covered districts. A program that ships into California should confirm the tether and weight requirements. See our conductivity and safety guide. |
For an enterprise buyer, a retail category manager, or a compliance officer, the regulatory shift creates two questions. First, what does the applicable program require of an importer? Second, what material profile can a supplier document? A verified compostable film changes the material classification, which can change the tax treatment of a program. The classification and fee for a given product are confirmed at quotation stage.
2. Film Structure: What the Compostable Line Is Made Of
A compostable balloon film has to meet two requirements at once. It has to act as a gas barrier during the retention window, and it has to be accessible to microbial and hydrolytic degradation once it enters a managed waste stream. Pure PLA on its own fails the first requirement: it is brittle, and its barrier performance is not sufficient for a helium-filled balloon. Blending PLA with PBAT adds flexibility, and a mineral filler dispersion in the core layer slows helium migration. For the barrier mechanism, see the PLA-PBAT whitepaper.
Our compostable line uses a co-extruded PLA-PBAT film. The layer structure is set for each program. The blend ratio, layer thickness, and helium transmission rate for a given film grade are confirmed at quotation stage.
| Layer | Function | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Outer lacquer | Scratch resistance and a printable surface. | Water-based; thickness and grade confirmed at quotation stage. |
| Printing ink layer | Multi-color graphics. | Water-based pigment system; RoHS coverage on the tested sample under SGS report SHAHG2207652301. |
| Core layer | Barrier and mechanical strength. | PLA-PBAT matrix with a mineral filler dispersion; specification confirmed at quotation stage. |
| Sealant layer | Heat-sealable inner surface. | Controlled die geometry at the seam; seam width and weld specification confirmed at quotation stage. |
| Metallization | Reflective finish and helium barrier. | Vacuum-deposited aluminum layer. Thickness and coverage confirmed at quotation stage. |
A single-layer PLA film without a co-extruded structure and without a barrier layer does not hold helium well. A buyer should specify the co-extruded structure in the contract and request the helium transmission rate and retention window data for the specific SKU. Our compostable line does not use a pro-oxidant additive or an oxo-biodegradable additive. It uses a PLA-PBAT matrix with a mineral filler dispersion.
3. Degradation Pathway: By Environment
The degradation of a PLA-PBAT film is not a single-step reaction. It requires specific thermal and microbial conditions. The table below compares the four main environments a balloon may end up in. The figures 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 film 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. |
Industrial composting: the two-stage mechanism
Under managed industrial composting conditions, the film degrades in two stages. First, moisture and elevated temperature drive hydrolysis of the ester bonds at the amorphous regions. That lowers the molecular weight and roughens the surface. Second, once the chains are short enough, extracellular enzymes from thermophilic microorganisms cleave the remaining ester bonds and depolymerize the film into monomers and oligomers. Third, the monomer products are metabolized into carbon dioxide, water, and biomass.
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. ISO 14855-1:2012 is a distinct standard from EN 13432.
Home Composting Reality
In a home compost pile, the temperature usually stays close to ambient and rarely holds a thermophilic range for a sustained period. The film degrades much more slowly than in an industrial facility. A distributor should state plainly that home composting is not the recommended disposal method for the compostable line.
4. Material Comparison: Compostable Film vs. Legacy Film
The table below sets out the parameters a procurement team should compare. The specification for a given order is confirmed at quotation stage.
| Parameter | Compostable PLA-PBAT | Legacy PET + Al (Mylar) |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial composting coverage | Covered under ISO 14855-1:2012 (SGS report SHMR220700361301); SKU coverage confirmed at quotation stage | Not covered |
| Retention window | Confirmed at quotation stage | Longer window; confirmed at quotation stage |
| Chemical restriction coverage | RoHS (EU) 2015/863 coverage on the tested sample (SGS report SHAHG2207652301); SKU coverage confirmed at quotation stage | Material profile varies by supplier |
| End-of-life profile | Designed for industrial composting | Persists in the environment for a long period; fragments into microplastics |
| Packaging tax classification | May qualify for a different classification; confirmed at quotation stage | Higher fee class under some EPR programs |
5. Storage, Shelf Life, and Ocean Transit
Because the film is hydrolytically sensitive, storage conditions matter. A warehouse that is warm and humid ages the film faster than a climate-controlled one. Keep bulk stock within the temperature and humidity range set for the specific film grade, and keep the moisture-barrier bag sealed until the product is ready for use. The temperature range, humidity limit, and shelf-life window for a given order are confirmed at quotation stage.
For ocean transit, our packing protocol uses a moisture-barrier master bag with a heat-sealed closure and a desiccant pack inside each carton. For a high-volume order on an equatorial route during the summer months, we can coordinate a temperature-controlled reefer container. The packing and container configuration for a given order are confirmed at quotation stage. For booking and customs background, see our shipping and storage FAQ.
FAIR is a member of the Pro Environment Balloon Alliance and supports the alliance's code of conduct on balloon releases. No balloon, including a compostable bioplastic balloon, should be released into the environment. The environmental benefit of the compostable line is realized through a managed waste stream. See our PEBA compliance guide.
6. Sourcing Notes: MOQ, Lead Time, and Inspection
We do not operate on fixed, published unit pricing or static minimum order quantities. The parameters below are set for each program and are confirmed at quotation stage.
MOQ
The MOQ for a given design depends on the shape, the print, and the tooling. It is confirmed at quotation stage.
Lead time
Sample lead time and production lead time are quoted separately. Both are confirmed at quotation stage.
Batch inspection
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.
Documentation
EN71 (SHTY130500007975-01), RoHS (SHAHG2207652301), and ISO 14855-1:2012 (SHMR220700361301) coverage of a specific SKU is confirmed at quotation stage.
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. 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
- 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
- ASTM D5338 — not held
- ASTM D6866 — not held
- ASTM F1980 — not held
- BPI — not held
- OECD 207 — not held
- OECD 208 — not held
- ASTM F963 — not held
- REACH — not held
- US CPSIA — not held
- California Prop 65 — not held
- US CONEG — not held
- FSC — not held for the balloon line
8. Degradation and Sourcing FAQ
9. Related Guides
For readers who need more detail on a specific sub-topic:
Requesting degradation data, test report copies, 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