28 Feb
Media

EcoStraws.ie looks to cut plastic problem with novel approach

Green thinking The Hospital-based firm tells us how their product is doing its bit for the environment

Based in Hospital, Co. Limerick, EcoStraws.ie is offering people an eco-friendly, high quality, fun alternative to the plastic drinking tube. EcoStraws.ie offers a full range of eco-friendly reusable and biodegradable disposable straws to the domestic, retail, trade and corporate gift markets both here in Ireland and internationally.

It is sometimes hard to believe in coincidence, but amazingly, the founders of EcoStraws.ie are three running buddies who attended the National Geographic ‘Symphony for our World’ performance at its European debut in Limerick, and decided to act as a result. Brian, Anthony and Sarah say that the shocking realisation of the damage that humans are causing to our planet, spurred them into action. And so EcoStraws.ie was born.

Our stock of top quality, well priced, reusable eco-friendly straws including Stainless Steel, Glass, Bamboo and Silicone are proving to be huge hits with the domestic and retail markets as householders include them in their cutlery drawer. With all products priced under €10, they are also proving to be excellent value.

Hospitality businesses who wish to promote their eco credentials are our biggest customers for paper, PLA and edible straws. These straws are sourced from 100% natural materials  which means they are completely biodegradable. Thankfully we have a very proactive hospitality sector here in Ireland, and the support we have received since launch has been phenomenal.

We provide a quick, local, personal service in supplying various other items such as eco-friendly collapsible straws and collapsible eco-cups which are proving very popular in the corporate gift sector.

We have a very active social media presence, and all our products can be found online at EcoStraws.ie, or indeed, you will find us every Saturday morning at Limerick Milk Market.

We have recently added Irish international rugby captain Ciara Griffin to our ranks, and have been endorsed by the All-Star Business Foundation, as well as National Geographic in Washington. With the ability, knowledge and experience we have in environmental sciences and hospitality, coupled with the momentum surrounding the current movement against single use plastics, we believe we can continue to grow our business.

 

26 Feb
Blog

Plastic Generation

Miracle Material

Leo Baekeland first invented plastic in 1907. It  was mostly used for non-conducting parts of telephones, radios and other electrical devices. Over the next 100 years many different forms of plastic were developed and so we became the plastic generation. Some of the miracle materials developed included nylon, vinyl, polystyrene, plexiglass, polyester, acrylic and many more.

Pretty plastic flowers that will last for hundreds of years…

World War 2 saw plastic production in the United States increase by 300% as Americans used plastic in everything from parachutes to aircraft windows. At the end of the war the surge in plastic production continued & plastic began to take the place of steel in cars, paper & glass in packaging and wood in furniture  Plastic was a miracle material; cheap, safe & sanitary and could be shaped by humans for their every whim. We became the plastic generation dedicated to plastic generation.

Why do we want to know the history of plastic I hear you ask? It’s simple really…

Because it’s not history!

 

Plastic is Permanent

As early as the 1960 ‘s plastic optimism began to wane. People began to observe plastic debris in the oceans. Since then 8 BILLION (yes billion) tons of plastic has been generated and most of it is disposable. As plastic takes more than 400 years to degrade it is safe to say that most of the items manufactured from plastic are still with us.

Single-use plastics pollution

Two years ago scientists at the University of Georgia began to study plastic waste. Their study  published recently revealed that

  • 12% of plastic waste is incinerated
  • 9% is recycled
  • 79% goes to landfill or turns up as litter

So only 9% of all plastics we have ever produced have been recycled. And half of all plastics manufactured become rubbish within a year. These statistics are astounding but they reinforce the reality that we are drowning in plastic.

 

The Truth about Recycling

So, why aren’t we recycling? Well firstly, much of the plastic used in packaging for example isn’t recyclable. Polypropylene and other plastics like it are typically used in single-use items such as straws & crisp packets because they are cheap to manufacture. Unfortunately, they are not easily recycled.

Multi-colored single-use plastics

Secondly  there are thousands of different types of plastic. Different combinations of dyes & additives are added to produce desired colour, shape & texture. Various types of plastic mean various melting points and other properties. And when you have different combinations in one item it renders it useless for manufacturing.

The third reason we’re not recycling (as much as we think we are) is that plastic resin has limited value. Every time it is reheated its quality degrades. Consequently, we can only reprocess most plastics once before they go to landfill.

It is also worth noting, that when we collect & remanufacture plastic we are only delaying it’s disposal.

The final destination for all plastics is either incineration or landfill.

Unsustainable Industry

These bales of plastic are ready to be shipped around the world. Twice!

The 9% of plastic that is recycled is washed, squashed, made into bales, loaded onto container ships & sent half way across the planet to be turned into plastic pellets. Once recycled we ship it around the world again, and make it into plastic toys, straws, packaging etc. We are wasting precious resources & burning fossil fuels unnecessarily. The impact on the environment and human health tells us that this industry is unsustainable for the future. It’s time for serious change.

 

Reduce your plastic use by:

Choosing cardboard containers

Carrying reusable grocery bags

Shop waste free

Choose fresh veg over frozen

Carry a reusable coffee cup

Switch to bamboo toothbrushes

Buy reusable razors & blades

Carry a reusable straw

 

EcoGirl

XX

 

We are EcoStraws; an Irish company with a passion for the planet.

EcoStraws.ie supply a complete range of eco-friendly reusable straws and 100% biodegradable disposable straws, as well as other associated products. Our stock of reusable eco-friendly straws include Stainless Steel, Glass, Bamboo and Silicone straws. Our biodegradable EcoStraws are available in Wheat, PLA, and Paper, and we even stock Edible Straws so you can have your straw and eat it too!

By choosing our products you are making a difference. By sharing our message you are helping to educate. EcoStraws/EcoCups help us to live in harmony with the natural world around us. Our ethos helps us to protect it from damage and destruction.

Why not join our mailing list right here –

 

 

 

24 Feb
Media

County firms eco-friendly product ‘straws’ attention.

Tell us about EcoStraws.ie.

We aim to reduce the 1million plastic straws used in Ireland every day by offering a full range of eco-friendly reusable and biodegradable disposable drinking straws and associated products to the domestic, retail, trade and corporate gift markets.

 

What does your own role entail?

Myself, Anthony and Sarah are a small but hardworking team. We share all aspects of progressing the business from R&D to Customer Service. Although I try to concentrate on financials, logistics and exploring new revenue avenues, I love the dynamics of the fluid role. This week for example I was trying to organise shipment of a container of paper straws from China to Greece one minute, then selling a box of straws to my neighbour in Limerick Milk Market the next!

 

Where were you born and raised?

I was born and raised in Adare, before moving to Hospital when we opened Scoby’s Bar in 2000, and then moved onto Knockainey in 2005. All brilliant communities in their own ways.

 

What is your educational background?

I went to Adare CBS, then St. Clements College before studying Engineering in DIT Bolton St.

 

How did you get to where you are today?

Anyone raised in Adare is encouraged into hospitality and I was no different, working in a number of bars and hotels, before opening Scoby’s Bar with my parents in Hospital in 2000. By 2015, I felt I needed a new challenge and began work in Air Traffic Control. I am currently working for Entry Point North in Shannon, who are the training division of the IAA, helping to train Air Traffic Controllers. They have been very accommodating in allowing me the time to concentrate on EcoStraws. I have also been involved in a few other startups in between, with varying degrees of success.

 

Why did you decide to join the company/go into business alone?

I have always been naturally inquisitive, and love the entrepreneurial challenge. When a solution to a problem presents itself, along with opportunity, correct timing, and a good team, it is hard to ignore.

 

What are your goals for the next 12 months?

We have just appointed a national distributor so we hope to see our products across the wider retail sector over the coming months. We would also love to help Limerick Council with its European Green Leaf 2020 application. Finally, we have identified 3 further markets and about 20 routes into those markets, so we will try to explore all those avenues over the next 12 months.

 

Who do you admire in business?

We have lots of successful businesspeople to champion here in Limerick. I admire the likes of the Fitzgerald family, Ralph Parkes, Mark McConnell, Richard Maguire and Colm O’Brien, firstly because of their work ethic and determination to succeed, but also because they are so generous with their time. In my opinion, there is nothing more valuable than somebody’s time.

 

In business and life, are you guided by any particular motto

I recently spoke in Shannon College of Hotel Management, and at UL Entrepreneurship Summit, and one of the messages I tried to encourage was to have a go, and try and make an impact in life. In my opinion, there is nothing worse than being alive but not living. You may fail, you may succeed, but have a go and enjoy the journey.

 

Away from work, what are your pastimes and hobbies?

I have a season ticket for Limerick FC, and Celtic FC so like to get to their games as much as possible. I also volunteer regularly for Special Olympics Ireland and will join Team Ireland in Abu Dhabi for the World Games next month.