Nothing 'green' about floating litter into the sky 

No balloon is 'environmentally friendly' and every released balloon becomes litter and can be harmful, according to a study. Do you really want to celebrate a birthday or graduation or commemorate a loved one with plastic waste?

Releasing balloons into the sky might make for a spectacle — but poses environmental hazards

It was a bright, chilly morning as I emerged from a ceremony at the crematorium at Dublin’s Mount Jerome Cemetery. In the distance, dozens of balloons drifted overhead, having just been released by another funeral party to honour their deceased relative.

It’s a nice idea. As one Dublin-based balloon company describes it: “balloon releases at funerals are becoming more popular as a visual expression of love. This growing trend seems like the appropriate metaphor for a loved one’s spirit as it ascends through the air”. A number of Irish funeral directors list balloon releases among the services they provide.