Our Commitment

Gemar is commited to the UN Global Compact corporate responsibility initiative and its principles in the areas of human rights, labour, the environment and anti-corruption and supports the Sustainable Development Goals.

Natural Products

All our balloons are made from “caoutchouc”, a natural and renewable material. Natural latex is combined with pigments to give a beautifully colourful product that is 100% bio-based. 100 % Biobased Carbon indicates that a material is entirely sourced from plants or animal by-products. At a time when the world is facing a growing plastic waste problem, it’s important to know that our balloons are not plastic. We are very proud of the fact that we have always used caoutchouc natural rubber to manufacture Gemar balloons. Caoutchouc, a milky sap harvested from the Hevea Brasiliensis rubber tree in the same way that maple syrup is tapped from maple trees, is a natural and renewable material preserved throughout the manufacturing process, which contributes to the net reduction of CO².

100% FSC^®-certified

We are proud to announce the new range of 100% FSC^®-certified Gemar balloons (FSC™ C155424). The materials used in this range come entirely from FSC^®-certified forests, and the balloons are packaged in recyclable or reusable bags. With this new range we are providing our customers with the option to purchase natural rubber products made in a way that is good for both people and nature. Click here to find out why it is so important to protect tropical forests.

Renewable and Recyclable

Our balloon manufacturing process uses more than 90% of renewable materials. All of our packaging is either reusable, recyclable and/or FSC^®-certified . Unlike standard balloon packaging, which is usually thrown away as soon as it’s opened, our zip bags can be kept, reused again and again and refilled. Sometimes the little things can make a big difference!

Gemar Family

Behind our success are a team of highly skilled and dedicated individuals – who are our greatest asset. It is important to us that everyone is treated well. In fact the core values of integrity, transparency, responsibility and loyalty underpin everything we do, and that includes our business relationships. For those working on site in Casalvieri, this means that in 2020 every staff member had the security of a permanent contract. Not only that, all are able to work full time in fair and safe conditions.

Safety is Paramount

When choosing Gemar, our customers can be sure that our products are designed to meet the highest standard of quality and expertly made in Italy with pride and passion, in fair working conditions and without ethical compromises. All processes, from design to manufacturing, are
carried out in our Gemar facilities in Casalvieri in Italy, in compliance with the most stringent European standards and regulations for quality and toy safety.
Gemar quality is recognised across the globe, certified and tested by accredited bodies worldwide such as TUV, SGS, Intertek, IISG-UL.

Community

Gemar’s influence reaches far beyond our factory walls. In the rubber plantations we seek to help communities grow by always prioritising and hiring local residents. Here in Italy, we sponsor many cultural, sporting and entertainment events.

Made in Italy

All of our products are made entirely in our factories here in the Italian hills, nothing is ever outsourced or manufactured overseas. Manufacturing every balloon ourselves means that you can be sure that you will always get our famous top quality products.

Education

Not only do we provide financial support to local schools and events, we also take a hands-on approach. Our balloon experts love to share fun and practical classes, both at events and online. Through our unique Balloonista program we share educational video tutorials with people across the world, inspiring them to create and discover the joy and passion for balloons.

Ethics

We are proud to have achieved ISO45001 certification, which marks our commitment to the safety and wellbeing of everyone who works at Gemar. This certification also demonstrates our ongoing dedication to improvement. Gemar is also certified according to ISO9001 and ISO14001. Here at Gemar, we are passionate about driving improvements throughout the industry by working together as a global community.
We are an active member of Assogiocattoli and the European Balloon & Party Council (EBPC), organisations dedicated to improving industry standards and promoting best practices and responsible use of balloons through Party Safe. Gemar is also a member of SEDEX, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to improving the ethics of global supply chains as well as European standardization bodies CEN-CENELEC and UNI.
The Gemar code of ethics has been developed to ensure that everyone is treated fairly at every stage of our supply train. We want this important information to be accessible to everyone, so it will soon be available to download in 14 different languages.

Tradition and Innovation

We look back on four generations of balloon manufacturers with an unshakable passion and pride, but we are not stuck in the past. With a long tradition of innovation, we aim to lead the way into the future in many ways, both big and small.
Our new packaging is the perfect example of a small change that could make a big difference. Unlike standard balloon packaging, which is usually thrown away as soon as it’s opened, our zip bags can be kept and reused over and over again.

Global Action

Since 2019 Gemar^® has been committed to the UN Global Compact corporate responsibility initiative and its principles in the areas of human rights, labour, the environment and anti-corruption. The United Nations Global Compact is the world’s largest voluntary initiative based on CEO commitments to implement universal sustainability principles and share responsibility for achieving a better world. Gemar is the first company in the balloon and party industry to adopt sustainability reporting certified according to GRI guidelines.