Sunday Business Post: Plastic is out as Irish firm sells eco-friendly straws.
Limerickman sees writing on the wall for single-use plastic as bans introduced in parts of US and Australia.
It is the last straw for single use plastic, according to Limerickman Brian O’Callaghan, who has launched a company selling environmentally friendly straws.
EcoStraws sells reusable straws made from materials including stainless steel, glass, bamboo and silicone as well as 100% biodegradable disposable straws made from paper and polyactic acid and edible straws made from pasta, maize starch and gelatin.
O’Callaghan said he was inspired to launch the company with his running buddies Sarah Keyes and Anthony Egan after the three of them attended the National Geographic Symphony for our World in September. The performance, by the National Symphony Orchestra at its European debut in Limerick, shared footage of animal and marine life. The company officially launched in November, which was a quick turnaround.
“I had a lot of research done before the performance, but that was the icing on the cake for us coming together as a team,” O’Callaghan said.
While running Scoby’s Bar in Hospital, Co Limerick, he was paying attention to the banning of single-use plastics in California and some states in Australia, and he knew it would be introduced in the European Union soon.
This month, the EU agreed on laws that would ban the use of several single-use plastics, including straws. Once the ban is formally approved by member states, countries will have two years to implement it.
“We aim to shop as local as possible. All of our packaging is coming from Limerick,” O’Callaghan said. “But the straws aren’t being manufactured in Ireland yet. The edible straws are from Barcelona. The pasta straws are from Italy. The rest are coming from Asia.”
The company has targeted three markets: personal, retail and wholesale. It focused on personal sales in the lead-up to Christmas.
In 2019, it will focus on retail and wholesale. Some of its products are already being used in hotels and cafés in Limerick. And it is in talks with a nationwide retailer which O’Callaghan said would give the company “huge exposure”.
In my experience, every entrepreneur has the vision, the goal, the roadmap, and maybe even the finance in place to support it. Interestingly, every entrepreneur also has the doubts; the doubts and concerns about that chosen blueprint that will hopefully fly against all odds and take them to the promised land of success.
Then, in true Christmas miracle style, something amazing happened. On Christmas Eve, a UPS parcel arrived at HQ originating from Washington DC, USA. What could it be? We weren’t expecting anything from America, and so, reminiscent of youth, the parcel was pulled and dragged until torn open, and what was inside blew us away.
“To the EcoStraws Team,
Brown Paper: Easons sell 4m of untreated brown wrapping paper for €1.99. Tie your gift with string and decorate with holly to give a beautiful and unique present.
Fabric is the perfect reusable material for wrapping presents. It comes in lots of colours and patterns, just like commercial wrapping paper. You probably have lots of festive pillowcases, tablecloths and even old curtains lying around your house which would be fit for purpose. The Japanese consider it an art-form called “Furoshiki” and create parcels that are beautiful and completely covered.
For a funky look consider using newspaper. Dress it up with some red ribbon and a sprig of Christmas tree to create an alternative eco-friendly package.
When we were teenagers, covering schoolbooks and copies in old magazine pages was all the rage! Why not recycle old magazines or comics as wrapping paper?
Very few tourists use maps these days, thanks to google and satellite navigation. Why not make use of old maps lying around and create unique Christmas gifts for family & friends?
Finally, cut up & recycle old Christmas cards to make personal name-tags for your presents.
EcoStraws.ie, launched only 8 weeks ago by Brian O’Callaghan, Sarah Keyes, and Anthony Egan has just been awarded the coveted All-Ireland Business All-Star accreditation – an independently verified standard mark for indigenous businesses, based on rigorous selection criteria.
“This coveted accreditation certainly places the spotlight on us,” says founder Brian O’Callaghan, “but it also showcases the campaign against the use of single use plastics in Ireland, and that can only be a good thing. As an indigenous, emerging Irish All-Star company, we are immensely proud of our All-Star status, and I should thank not only the All-Ireland Business Foundation, but also my team and most importantly our customers.”
“In a minimum six-week process, we evaluate a company’s background, trustworthiness, and performance, and we speak to customers, employees, and vendors.
The Brief:
Next we took to the skies! (well almost 🙂 Thanks to the generosity of management in 
The Wild Atlantic Way:
Getting Close To Nature:
My hypothermia wasn’t in vain however. We did manage to get some beautiful shots of EcoCups against the Diamond Rocks. Above all, we cannot forget the delicious coffee in 
Chasing Rainbows:
Every good vessel must make it’s maiden voyage. Some sailors christen their ships with a sacrificial bottle of champagne as they are cheered into the surf! Some ships launch with a crash of waves, and some sail beautifully into the sunset. I wanted my EcoStraw to be celebrated, praised and admired as it made it’s unofficial debut in the swanky bars of
California Dreamin’:
#gogreenin2019. Most importantly, the boys left with my business card & who knows, maybe we’ll be supplying the American Airforce with EcoStraws in the near future!
Our final port of call was
All Hands on Deck:
