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Earth Day: Don’t suck! Say no to plastic straws
There are a number of establishments in Hoedspruit and Tzaneen that are joining the global campaign and offering environmentally friendly alternatives to plastic straws.
We’ve had the last straw! It’s time for each and every one of us to make a small change in our lives and try to reduce our use of plastics.
A very simple choice we can all make is to refuse to utilise single-use plastic straws.
It won’t be too easy, they are often forced upon us when we buy our cool drinks, especially from the multi-national chain take-away businesses.
Today is Earth Day, an annual event acknowledged internationally that aims to demonstrate support for environmental protection, in particular, the impact of plastic pollution on our environment.
From poisoning and injuring marine life to disrupting human hormones, from littering our beaches and landscapes to clogging our waste streams and landfills, the exponential growth of plastics is now threatening the survival of our planet.
Earth Day 2018 is therefore dedicated to providing the information and inspiration needed to fundamentally change human attitude and behaviour about plastics.
So why not use today, Earth Day 2018, as a day to mark the beginning of a small change in your life and take the pledge against plastic straws?
The main threat that plastic straws pose is to marine life. It is reported that 100,000 marine mammals are killed annually due to plastic debris and plastic straws are among the top 10 debris found during coastal clean ups.
Moreover, plastic straws can take up to 200 years to degrade.
Statistics suggest that up to 90% of all marine life, mammals and fish, have ingested plastic at some point in their lives.
Not only is this despicable to think of, but the potential health impact to those consuming fish from the ocean must also be considered.
So what are the alternatives to single-use plastic straws?
Firstly, as a consumer, you can buy yourself your own stainless steel straw with a cleaning kit or perhaps your own bamboo re-usable straw.
Next, as an eatery, there are many options you can consider to offer your customers. Some establishments are offering reusable bamboo straws and are cleaning them themselves. Additionally, single-use paper straws are now readily available at extremely reasonable prices as are compostible straws made from Polylactic acid (PLA). PLA is a biodegradable, plant-based polyester derived from renewable resources, such as corn starch or sugar cane.
As a restaurant, take-away outlet or any entity offering drinks to your customers, one argument may be cost and this is something each establishment will have to consider on its own.
At the very least though, maybe even just consider NOT removing the paper sleeve when you serve your cool drinks. Leave the straw in its wrapper and allow your consumer to decide whether they want to utilise it or not.
This is an international campaign and sparking interest throughout the world.
Montecasino recently began phasing out the use of plastic straws, all thanks to a 10-year-old girl with a vision and a love of wildlife, in particular, dolphins.
Harriet Dawes from Fourways set out to make a difference to the marine environment after participating in river clean-ups at Emmarentia Dam and Jukskei River. Her letter to Montecasino was so well-received and she believed that Montecasino would be the ones to ‘lead the way’ and so they have!
Namibia as a country are also joining the movement and have published a series of poster campaigns to highlight the issue.
So how have Hoedspruit and Tzaneen responded to this?
Sleepers are only using paper straws and have information pertaining to the ‘last straw’ campaign on their menus.
COOKED are awaiting stock of biodegradable alternatives, Hoedspruit Coffee Purveyors use eco-friendly cups and straws and have designed a poster about single-use plastics.
Joburg Online in Hoedspruit are awaiting paper straws and PLA straws for wholesale to lodges and restaurants at very reasonable prices. They also will bring in compostible pizza boxes and take-away cartons for sale.
Other establishments in Hoedspruit that are making an effort to move towards environmentally friendly alternatives to single-use plastics include; Maroela Bar, Three Bridges, Spur, Snack Shack and Hoedspruit Grill and Diner.
It is also great to see that private lodges in the Hoedspruit area are also joining in!
In Tzaneen, there are at least three local businesses that are taking the lead in this global campaign. At the Olive Tree, plastic straws are only given out upon request and they have recently put in an order for biodegradable straws for use in the coffee shop. Moreover, they have put signs up around the coffee shop to educate their customers on the plight. Additionally, they have put in an order to stainless steel straws to add to their stock in the gift shop.
Yum Yum have also put in their order for paper straws and are moving towards offering take-away boxes packed in a paper bag instead of a plastic bag.
Twigs Coffee Shop are also part of movement, offering reusable bamboo straws that they clean themselves after use.
Is there a better time than today to join this movement? Well yes actually, but that was yesterday.
If you need more information on where to buy your own re-usable straws or stockists of biodegrabale straws, feel free to send me an email bethc@herald.co.za
#thelaststraw
