If we were to answer this question, we’d probably say, ‘absolutely nothing!’. Well that’s not entirely true, but legend has it that the June Dally Watkins School of Etiquette instructs its students that one should never drink from plastic straws. So are plastic straws on their way out?
Our addiction to plastic straws
According to the Australian Marine Conservation Society almost 90 percent of marine debris on Sydney beaches is plastic – mostly bottles, caps and straws. In 2017, Manly resident, Kasey Turner, collected 319 straws in just 20 minutes while snorkelling at Manly Cove. The next day she found 294 straws in the same place. Volunteers with Sustainable Organisations of Manly found an octopus with 4 straws in its tentacles!
So why do we use straws? To prevent spillage and to stir drinks, and because it’s convenient. Interestingly, this convenience doesn’t extend to a domestic context because most consumers don’t tend to use straws at home.
When added to a drink, single-use plastic straws are generally used for under four minutes. This is an extremely short real life utility, especially given plastic straws take over 400 years to break down.
No Straw Por Favor – #TheLastStraw
For many venues, a simple way to cut out plastic straws is putting them out of sight and training staff not to use them, unless a customer requests one. However, if straws are a staple in your bar toolkit, then there are a few sustainable options available.
- Stainless Steel Straws – Durable, easy to clean and reusable time and time again.
- Vegware PLA Drinking Straws – Biodegradable and completely compostable plant-based PLA straws.
As reported in Concrete Playground, some venues have proactively sought to change the habits of their customers. Brisbane’s Crowbar began phasing out plastic straws in 2016, using social media to announce the steps it was taking to reduce its environmental impact. Likewise, Sydney’s Dead Ringer announced last year it was replacing plastic straws with reusable metal straws.
5 tips for a more sustainable bar or venue
If your venue is thinking about taking a more sustainable approach, then here are a few simple ideas for inspiration:
- Replace single use plastic straws with Stainless Steel Straws or Vegware PLA Drinking Straws.
- Use reusable coasters instead of Cocktail Napkins.
- Ditch the fruit garnish or replace them with dehydrated versions (check out the recipe here), or fresh herbs from the kitchen.
- Use bamboo cocktail sticks instead of plastic sticks.
- Use refillable bottles for tap water or filtered water.
Whomix can help with sustainability
Members of our team have been working in the hospitality industry for more than 20 years. We can help you choose the right products to help you reduce your environmental footprint.
If you would like more information, please contact a member of our friendly team. Phone (02) 9052 9111, or complete our online request form.