Don't Let Go: Balloon and sky lantern releases

There’s one thing to remember when it comes to balloons and sky lanterns: Don’t Let Go! Because what goes up must come down and when it does, it can be fatal to wildlife.

Why are balloon and sky lantern releases a problem?

Letting go of balloons and setting off sky lanterns may seem like a bit of harmless fun, but what happens when they float out of your sight and disappear from your thoughts? They land somewhere – either intact or in bits with their trailing strings and plastic ties.

This balloon litter can be eaten by marine life, entangle turtles or sea birds and may result in premature death by choking, starvation or strangulation.

Many people don’t know that balloons and lanterns pose these threats to wildlife, which is why there are so many fundraising or awareness events still using them. While anyone knowingly throwing litter on the ground could be fined, letting go of a balloon or a lantern, which is just as problematic, isn’t treated in the same way.

39

%

of our beach cleans recorded balloon litter in 2025

That’s why we're highlighting the issue with our Don’t Let Go messaging – to help prevent harm to wildlife and reduce litter levels on our beautiful beaches.

We’ve already had some success with our campaigning, with single-use plastic balloon sticks now banned in all UK countries - but we still need action on balloon and lantern releases.

Read our Don't Let Go policy position statement

Impacts on wildlife

Balloons marketed as ‘biodegradable’ can last up to four years in the marine environment
Dolphins, whales, turtles and seabirds have all been reported with balloons in their stomachs
Marine turtles are particularly vulnerable as they can mistake balloons and other bits of plastic as their staple food: jellyfish. This often leads to buoyancy issues and eventual starvation.
Sky lanterns also pose a fire hazard to crops and to thatched roof properties

A black headed gull is sanding on some rocks. Dangling from it's mouth is a red, deflated balloon.

Image credit: countingcoots.blogspot.co.uk

What you can do

We want to get outdoor balloon and sky lantern releases stopped. We don’t want to stop people having fun – we just want to protect our vulnerable marine species and reduce litter.

We need your help in spreading the word that letting go of balloons and lanterns is harming our wildlife and littering our beaches.

If you're looking for alternatives to balloon releases, take a look at our suggestions below:

Paper decorations

Rather than balloons, decorate your venue with paper decorations that can be folded away and reused. There are lots of paper backdrops and hanging decorations that can really brighten up a room and make an event look fabulous - all whilst being eco-friendly.

Flags, banners and pop-ups

Many businesses are realising the benefits of using reusable, eye-catching signage. Colourful streamers, flags, banners and other signs save money and time over balloons, string, helium and lanterns. And you can use them again and again!

How many?

Fill up a jar with sweets then get people to guess how many there are. The closest guess wins the jar of sweets.

Light a candle

Rather than bringing a balloon or lantern for release, people can light candles, nightlights, static lanterns or solar garden lights - a good number of these will create an ambient, reflective and peaceful atmosphere.

Blowing bubbles

Blowing bubbles into the sky gives the same feeling of release that letting go of a balloon or lantern achieves, and you can do it again and again. If some people bring torches and shine them as the bubbles go up, the effect is spectacular.

A minute’s applause

Often used to acknowledge someone’s passing at football and rugby matches. The sound and focus can be a really cathartic experience as everyone reflects on the person’s life for an intense minute.

Plant a tree to remember a loved one

Planting a tree is a lovely way to remember a loved one. It gives you somewhere to visit again and again, and it also helps the environment.

Councils are getting it

Local authorities are increasingly voting to ban the release of balloons and lanterns on their land. They’re making that decision after pressure from local people, demonstrating the impact we can all make in securing ocean-positive change.

Over 100 local authorities in the UK have banned balloon/sky lantern releases on their land. Check our list of Councils with bans to see if yours is on there.

You might also be interested in...

A beach with a flag in the foreground that reads "Marine Conservation Society Beach Clean"

Don't let go: Councils

The following councils already have a balloon and/or sky lantern release ban in place.

A male using a litter picker to pick up a plastic bottle on a beach. A Marine Conservation Society banner is to the right of the man.

Beach cleans

Join one of our beach clean surveys and help keep Britain's beaches beautiful and our ocean safe for wildlife.

An Atlantic puffin sitting inside its cliff-face burrow looking to the left

Join

Join our UK-wide community of marine lovers and become a member of our ocean charity today.