What a breakthrough! In January 2018 one of the UK’s leading pub chains, J D Wetherspoon, joined the plastic awareness movement by banning their use of disposable plastic straws and replacing them with biodegradable paper ones. The negative impact of plastic straws became prevalent upon the release of a video back in 2015 that showed the removal of a straw from the nose of a distressed Olive Ridley sea turtle.
Many have been made more aware of the detrimental effects that straws have on the environment and marine wildlife which has given rise to campaigns such as “Refuse the Straw”. The added pressure from these campaigns and social media are really making a difference and many organisations are beginning to make these positive changes; I have started to see so many more paper straws on bar tops now. Though it’s still important to remember to order that drink without the straw. As the consumer,
you have the power!