Bioloon
Founded: 2026
Founders: Jason Hallett, Charlotte Melia, Christie-Lee Molgaard, Juliana Cumming
CEO: Charlotte Melia
Bioloon originated from D&F Creative where co-founders Charlotte Meila and Christie-Lee Molgaard were unhappy about the balloon waste at their events.
Traditional vulcanised latex balloons do not biodegrade despite widespread eco-friendly claims. The pair part funded a PhD project at Imperial College London to develop a sustainable alternative. This led to the collaborative Imperial spin-out using a team of technical experts, commercial start-up expertise and industry connections.
The spin-out has developed a novel, patented biodegradable elastomeric material. It removes the crosslinking (vulcanisation) steps used in commercially produced natural latex products while maintaining the same functionality as a conventional balloon. The product is likely to save the lives of millions of seabirds and turtles – many of them killed by vulcanised balloons each year.
Bioloon is a biodegradable materials platform. Balloons are the entry point before expansion into multibillion-pound adjacent markets driven by regulation, sustainability and global licensing. These include apparel, non-surgical and surgical gloves, medical apparatus and eventually condoms, as all are made using a similar, dip coating process. The technology is designed to be implemented into the existing manufacturing infrastructure and is likely to achieve cost parity at scale. Development of compatible biodegradable colours plus pilot balloon manufacturing are now in the pipeline for 2027.
Bioloon has completed a first pre-seed funding round at £1.5 million in September 2026.
Key investors are: Steve Oliver, co-founder of musicMagpie, investor and chair of Bioloon. And Vicky Soden, investor and CEO of WIBF (Women in Banking and Finance).
Media:
The balloon that’s easier to blow up — and won’t let down the planet
Researcher creates biodegradable balloon that won’t inflate prices | Watch