Belarus Ecologists Urge Ditching Graduation Balloons in 2025

On the eve of the 2025 graduation season, Belarusian environmental services have made an important appeal to schoolchildren. The Minsk City Committee of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection strongly recommends abandoning the popular tradition of releasing balloons during last bells and graduation parties.

Beauty that kills nature

Launching colorful balloons into the sky does create a spectacular sight that symbolizes the flight of graduates’ dreams and hopes. However, behind this outward beauty lies a serious ecological threat, the scale of which many underestimate. Experts explain the mechanism by which the environment is harmed through several key factors. Balloons can travel vast distances, drifting on air currents tens or even hundreds of kilometers from the launch site. When they finally descend to earth, the most remote and previously untouched natural areas become polluted.

The toxic legacy of celebration

The materials from which balloons are made pose particular danger to ecosystems. Latex shells and polyethylene strings release toxic chemical compounds into the soil and water bodies as they decompose. This process can continue for years, gradually poisoning the environment. Aquatic ecosystems are especially vulnerable when products of synthetic material breakdown enter them. Contamination of groundwater and surface water creates long-term ecological problems that require significant effort and resources to solve.

Lethal danger to wildlife

Fallen balloons present a direct threat to wild animals and birds. Bright colors and unusual shapes attract the attention of animals, which may mistake balloon fragments for food. Ingesting latex pieces can block an animal’s digestive tract, often ending in a painful death by starvation. Ribbon and string remnants from balloons are no less dangerous. Animals can become entangled in them, restricting their mobility and ability to forage. Such cases are regularly recorded by conservation services worldwide, demonstrating the seriousness of the problem.

Legal aspects and social responsibility

It is important to note that there is currently no direct legislative ban on balloon releases in Belarus. Ecologists emphasize that this is a plea for awareness and understanding of the environmental damage this seemingly harmless tradition causes. Representatives of the Minsk City Committee of Natural Resources draw special attention of educational institutions to the need to reconsider approaches to organizing celebratory events. Kindergartens, schools, gymnasiums, and lyceums are encouraged, whenever possible, to exclude balloon releases from their festive programs.

Modern alternatives to traditional celebration

Ecologists propose several creative and environmentally safe alternatives to balloon releases. One of the most interesting options is organizing flash mobs, which can create a vivid and memorable spectacle without harming nature. Writing letters or creating video messages to the future is a deeply symbolic tradition that can be more meaningful for graduates than a fleeting balloon release. Such messages can be opened after a set number of years, creating an additional emotional link to the school period.

Graduation season 2025: numbers and plans

This year, Belarusian schools in the capital alone are graduating over 32,000 students. More than 20,000 are ninth graders and about 12,000 are eleventh graders completing the next stage of their education. The last bell for all graduates will ring on May 24, and graduation ceremonies are scheduled for June 13. The organization of graduation events is strictly regulated: they must be held exclusively on the premises of educational or cultural institutions. Holding graduations in commercial venues such as cafes and restaurants is strictly prohibited.

Environmental education as a basis for change

The ecologists’ appeal to abandon balloon releases is part of a broader educational program aimed at fostering ecological awareness among youth. Understanding the link between everyday actions and their environmental impact is becoming increasingly important in the face of growing ecological challenges. Graduates who today decide to forgo the traditional balloon release demonstrate a mature approach to nature conservation. This stance lays the foundation for making responsible ecological decisions in the future, which is especially important for the generation that will face global environmental issues.

International experience and trends

Belarus is not the only country raising concerns about the ecological harm of mass balloon releases. Many countries have already enacted restrictions or outright bans on such events. Some impose fines for environmental pollution caused by balloons, viewing it as a form of ecological offense. Experience from other countries shows that transitioning to eco-friendly celebration formats is not only possible but also fosters creativity in event planning. Many alternative celebration forms prove to be more memorable and meaningful for participants. The Belarusian ecologists’ call to stop releasing balloons at graduations is an important step toward fostering environmentally responsible behavior among the young generation. The beauty of nature that we preserve today will be the best gift for future generations of graduates.