EcoStraws Introduction
It is sometimes hard to believe in coincidence, but amazingly, life has a way of bringing like-minded people together for good reason. We, Sarah, Anthony & Brian, are three running buddies, all members of Bilboa Athletic Club, in Co. Limerick. In September of 2018 we attended the National Geographic Symphony for our World performance by the National Symphony Orchestra at its European debut in Limerick. In addition to the glorious animal & marine-life footage which was a feast for the senses, there was also a serious message: Earth is under assault from the actions of man.
The shocking realisation of the damage that we humans are causing to our planet, spurred us into action. Conversations were had, research conducted, kettles were boiled and after much deliberation we decided upon our target – the plastic straw. This seemingly harmless piece of plastic which has become a menace to marine-life all over the world. And so EcoStraws.ie was born.
Problem
Research has shown that Ireland uses approximately 1 million plastic straws every day. Similarly, the US goes through 500 million every day! That’s enough to wrap the circumference of the earth 2.5 times! Single use straws are usually made from the cheapest plastic available, which is not suitable for recycling and as a result, sent to landfill. Very often these seemingly innocuous pieces of plastic find their way into our rivers, drains and ultimately our oceans. As a result, they are recorded as being one of the top 10 pieces of debris found on our beaches. Instead of biodegrading, plastic breaks down to smaller and smaller pieces. Consequently, these pieces get ingested by marine & land animals, and ultimately, by us!
EcoStraws Solution
And so – our solutions. We wanted to offer people an eco-friendly, high quality, fun alternative to the plastic drinking tube. A straw adds a bit of fun to a boring lemonade, or can double as a stirrer in a cocktail and in short, we LIKE them! So EcoStraws.ie was born, and has since provided several solutions!
About EcoStraws
EcoStraws supply many different types of Eco friendly reusable straws and 100% biodegradable disposable straws. Our stock of reusable eco-friendly straws include Stainless Steel, Glass, Bamboo and Silicone straws. We manufacture these from high quality materials which can be reused again and again. You can store them in your cutlery drawer or carry them with you in our drawstring pouches. 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! These EcoStraws are sourced from 100% natural materials which means they are completely biodegradable. Once they have passed the prime of their life, you can put them in your compost bin.
EcoStraws come in different shapes and sizes, some with a bend, some straight, some short and some long. Our world premiere foldable and spring action reusable straws are our biggest sellers. You can tuck these into a pocket or handbag or even attach them to a keyring. In fact if you can think of an EcoStraw we don’t stock please let us know!
Our packaging is Eco-friendly and recyclable too and we endeavour to ship all our stylish EcoStraws in biodegradable, plastic-free parcels.
Action Needed
So now that you know all about our EcoMentality why not join us in taking responsibility for reducing our reliance on single use plastics. Why not switch to an EcoStraw today and play your part in saving the planet, one turtle at a time. Visit our website ecostraws.ie, and check out the amazing range of EcoStraws available to you. We would also love to hear your comments across any of our social media channels.
Meet The Team
Brian O’Callaghan, Founder and Managing Director, is a highly motivated professional with a 20 year track record of profitable small hospitality business ownership. Brian also co-founded a leading Irish Energy Services Company. In this role, Brian combines his interpersonal, entrepreneurial, negotiation, and mediation skills with his experience in the relevant sectors and looks forward to helping sway public opinion away from harmful plastic straws.
Sarah Keyes, Co-founder and Sales Director, combines 20 years experience in the education sector with a background in hospitality and a passion for the environment. Working with An Taisce, Sarah has been part of the Green Schools Education Programme which promotes sustainability in schools in Ireland. Furthermore, Sarah believes in educating the youth to promote environmental awareness on a local and national level for the benefit of generations to come.
Anthony Egan, Research & Development, combines 15 years experience in the hospitality sector with a B.Sc. in Environmental Science (L.I.T). Time spent analysing and monitoring local water bodies have given an insight into the finite resources available and the need to develop a sustainable way to protect them. Anthony’s additional experience in the Complementary Medicine sector (Dip.in Chinese Medicine, Barrington’s Medical Centre) provides the link between environmental science and human well-being.
