Macy’s President Jack Straus donated approximately 650 pounds of rubber balloon material to the war effort. In 1945, after the war ended, two million people turned out for the parade.

The balloon industry markets latex rubber balloons as biodegradable, but studies have found that they don’t break down in the ocean. Furthermore, the strings attached to balloons are generally ...

The rubber balloon has worn many hats since it was invented 200 years ago. It has been used to spruce up birthday parties and political rallies, operate flying machines and open arteries.

Macy’s President Jack Straus donated approximately 650 pounds of rubber balloon material to the war effort. In 1945, after the war ended, two million people turned out for the parade.