Background
We focus on single-use rubber balloons due to their short lifecycle and significant environmental impact. Widely used in parties and celebrations for their convenience and instant joy, these balloons come with a hidden environmental cost. Cross-cultural comparisons revealed significant differences in rubber balloon usage between the East and the West, prompting us to examine this issue from a global perspective. Our research delves into the entire lifecycle of rubber balloons—from production and usage to disposal—highlighting their profound environmental impact.
We focus on single-use rubber balloons due to their short lifecycle and significant environmental impact. Widely used in parties and celebrations for their convenience and instant joy, these balloons come with a hidden environmental cost. Cross-cultural comparisons revealed significant differences in rubber balloon usage between the East and the West, prompting us to examine this issue from a global perspective. Our research delves into the entire lifecycle of rubber balloons—from production and usage to disposal—highlighting their profound environmental impact.
Analysis
We also examined the key stages of recycling through waste management systems. If collection and distribution are handled by different groups, people lack the motivation to recycle, leading most rubber balloons to be incinerated or landfilled. We hypothesize that offering tangible personal benefits would more effectively motivate recycling behavior.
Partner
LokaReboon Product Line
Bag
Furniture
Shoes
Art
Art
Vision
When observing the journey of balloons in these scenarios, we find that cleaning up balloons immediately after an event often dampens the party spirit. But what if we create a service that informs people about the recyclable value of discarded balloons? We aim to explore whether we can leverage people's expectation of memorable products made from recycled balloons to change their attitudes and behaviors towards recycling rubber balloons.
We evaluated the interest and influence of stakeholders in this service proposal. We identified that venue providers play a crucial role in communicating with the couple, coordinating with balloon decoration studios, hosting the wedding, and managing balloon recycling. Therefore, venue providers have the potential to be the primary initiators of the ReRitual service.
Among venue providers, international modern hotel chains demonstrate greater sustainability awareness and related needs. They can influence a broad and global customer base, making them ideal partners for implementing this service.
Proposal
We evaluated the interest and influence of stakeholders in this service proposal. We identified that venue providers play a crucial role in communicating with the couple, coordinating with balloon decoration studios, hosting the wedding, and managing balloon recycling. Therefore, venue providers have the potential to be the primary initiators of the ReRitual service.
Among venue providers, international modern hotel chains demonstrate greater sustainability awareness and related needs. They can influence a broad and global customer base, making them ideal partners for implementing this service.
1. The couple arrives at the hotel wedding venue, and the manager introduces the balloon recycling service
A couple looking to have a memorable wedding discusses their plans with the hotel. They choose balloon decorations, and the staff recommends the balloon recycling service, which repurposes the balloons into new products. The couple is delighted with this idea.
2. Before the wedding, the balloon studio decorates the venue, and the venue staff
sets up different recycling bins based on balloon colors
Before the wedding, the venue provider is responsible for setting up the site, installing balloon decorations, and placing balloon recycling bins.
3. After the wedding, guests pop the balloons and sort them into different recycling bins by color
At the end of the wedding, guests are encouraged to recycle the balloons, turning the recycling process into a meaningful blessing for the couple. This initiative also enhances the venue's appeal to future guests.
4. One guest finds a surprise note inside a balloon and wins a hidden gift
To motivate guests to participate in recycling, a special surprise is hidden in one of the balloons. The lucky guest who finds it receives a small gift made from balloons, provided by the venue.
5. After sorting, the balloons are sent to a factory to be made into recycled rubber products
After the wedding, the collected balloons are sent to a specialized factory, like LokaReboon, to be crafted into gifts. Once the gifts are made, they are sent back to the venue.
6. The recycled rubber gifts are returned to the couple as wedding souvenirs
A few days later, the newlyweds receive the unique gifts from the venue provider. This not only acknowledges their sustainable choices but also serves as a cherished memento of their special day.
We aim to test whether "waste" can inspire active participation in recycling when it is given emotional significance.
To prototype and test within the short project timeframe, we placed small boxes made from used A4 paper in the RCA service design area.
We encouraged classmates to treat used single-use items as ballots, writing a blessing for themselves and placing them into the boxes according to the color of the sticky notes.
Additionally, we found that compared to other single-use items, such as food packaging and plastic water bottles, balloons are more suitable as wedding keepsake ballots.
Reflection
- Acknowledging our project's time constraints, we aim to use scientific prototyping methods like randomized controlled trials and broader user testing in the future.
- As the project evolves, we hope to extend our design interventions beyond rubber balloons to other single-use products and party supplies.
"If We Are Not the Solution,
We Are Part of the Problem"
- Due to consumerism and mass production, advocating for sustainability becomes exceptionally challenging. Rubber balloons, for example, are designed to be cheap, lightweight, and easy to use, with little psychological burden when discarded. As service designers, although we can collaborate with experts to develop innovative and sustainable alternatives to rubber balloons, I realize that changing the deeply ingrained "throwaway culture" is a daunting task.
- This led me to ponder the broader impact of our design: What chain reactions might our solutions trigger? What economic impacts will they have on existing supply chains? I understand that the solution we propose in this project cannot change the world, but I see it as a starting point. Like "acupuncture in traditional Chinese medicine," I consider this an "acupuncture-style design" or "first-aid design" for sustainability. We aim to take small yet meaningful actions in the rubber balloon industry before finding more feasible and eco-friendly alternatives.
- On the day we concluded this project, we saw RCA decorate the campuses with balloons to celebrate being ranked as the top design school by QS again. While alumni shared their joy on social media, I secretly hoped our proposal would prompt people to reflect more on their use of rubber balloons. Although there is no perfect solution, recycling as a step to reduce environmental impact is a significant beginning. Despite its imperfections, this short-term project has provided valuable insights, and through reflection and gradual improvement, I hope to contribute to a more sustainable future.
Though this short-term project is not perfect, I hope to contribute to a more sustainable future through reflection and gradual improvement.
Balloon decorations placed in the South Kensington and Battersea campuses