Guest post by Charlotte Walsh, founder of The Silicone Straw Company
My inspiration for The Silicone Straw Company
I live with my family in a picture-postcard village in the Yorkshire Dales and feel so lucky to live somewhere that other people come on holiday. Along with the holidaymakers we love to spend sunny days down by the river with our children – picnicking and paddling.
It’s beautiful, but sometimes the aftermath isn’t; plastic bottles, coffee cups, sandwich wrappers and plastic straws wash downstream - a reminder of the many single-use plastics that we use and discard on a daily basis.
Seeing the impact these have on our beautiful area got me thinking – how could I use my 10 years of manufacturing experience to make being green a little bit easier?
So I came up with a simple mission – to create a convenient alternative to single-use plastic straws.
Reusable straws made in the UK
This mission led me to launch the The Silicone Straw Company. Our products are beautifully simple in design and made using the highest quality food-grade silicone here in the UK.
While some companies have their ‘eco’ products made in China, we will always manufacture our straws here in the UK. It’s better for the environment and the local economy – ensuring that we promote sustainable living while controlling our ethical impact too.
Thoughtful design
Our reusable silicone straws are designed and made in the UK from food-grade silicone which is BPA-free and Vegan-friendly as they contain no animal products.
The silicone is much more durable than plastic so our straws can be used again and again. The straws are perfect for all ages as they are bendable and will withstand a little chew! They can be cut to size allowing them to work perfectly will all cup sizes.
The straws are available with a handy cleaning brush or can be popped in the dishwasher.
Making a difference to avoidable plastic waste
And the timing couldn't be more important; in 2018 the UK government released a 25-year environment plan which aims to reduce the amount of avoidable plastic waste by 2042. It's designed to drastically cut the amount of plastic pollution that inevitably ends up in the sea.
Some small changes have made a big difference. Since the 5p levy charge on carrier bags was introduced in England in 2015 there has been a reduction in the number of bags used by more than 80 percent, which in turn has reduced the impact on marine pollution by 30 percent.
Next, it's the plastic straw ban; from October 2020 the UK will ban single-use plastic straws to further reduce marine pollution.
This is great news for the environment, but let’s be honest, it's not just our children who love straws!
Where to buy our silicone straws
Our silicone straws are available direct from us at thesiliconestrawcompany.co.uk
Orders are shipped in plastic-free envelopes.
If you would like to become a stockist please get in touch.
All images are copyright of The Silicone Straw Company and used with permission.
