The Final Straw:
A World Heritage Site:
I was lucky enough recently to have the opportunity to tick a box on my bucket-list of life’s ambitions. No, I didn’t hike to Machu Picchu or scale The Great Wall, but I did visit The Whit Sunday islands. While there, I had the chance to snorkle for several hours in The Great Barrier Reef. In all honesty, I felt like I was a fish in Sir David Attenborough’s Blue Planet! It was spectacular to be in such close proximity to marine species I’ve only ever seen on TV.
The Great Barrier Reef is the single biggest structure made by living organisms on our planet. It can be seen from space, is home to thousands of unique species including clownfish, turtles and whales, and has over 400 different types of coral. And we are destroying it!
The Human Effect:
Yes, this magnificent natural wonder, unique to the East Coast of Australia is dying and has lost more than half of it’s coral cover since 1985. It made me so sad to think that something I had enjoyed as one of the most breathtaking moments of my life may not exist in 30 years time.
Our tour guide Brody explained that along with the warming of the oceans, pollution, particularly by single-use plastics was one of the greatest threats to the reef. And although East Coast Australia is on the other side of the world, it got me thinking; if single use plastic is destroying the Pacific Ocean, it’s surely having a similar effect on the Atlantic Ocean. Brody encouraged us to be Eco-aware when we went about our daily lives and to be mindful of our habits when purchasing and so I began to open my eyes.
A Plastic Problem:
I began to notice single-use plastic everywhere; the wrapper on my bread, the lid on my coffee cup, the plastic on my lunchtime sandwich, the straw in my afternoon smoothie. I could go on, but the list is endless. We assume that all plastics are recyclable, but the reality is that very often they are not. Straws in particular, are made from polypropylene which is not widely recycled and more often than not single use plastic straws end up in landfill sites, drains, rivers & ultimately our oceans.
Eco-Friendly:
This new awareness got me thinking. What can I do? How can I spread the Eco-message coming from the East Coast of Australia? How can I help save The Great Barrier Reef or The Wild Atlantic Way? My children & grandchildren should have the opportunity to swim with the turtles like I did. So, I started to make a few small changes.
I have gotten in to the habit of choosing fruit & vegetables that are not store packaged, buying bread that comes in a paper bag, carrying my EcoCup in my handbag and refusing plastic straws in my drinks.
My new EcoStraw is a permanent fixture on my keyring. It pops out wherever I go & has turned out to be a great conversation starter. Everyone is curious, from taxi drivers, to bar staff and even a couple of Airforce pilots from California.
The EcoStraw is compact, stylish and easy to clean and because the inside tube is made from silicone it’s suitable for all drinks, hot & cold, and has no lingering aftertaste. It’s my gadget!
Every time I use the EcoStraw, I am reminded of the video of the turtle with the straw in it’s nose. Why should innocent animals suffer because of the careless actions of humans?
I’m hopeful that by making small changes, single-use plastics will become a thing of the past. It’s time to save our oceans and protect its’ species. We know we can do it, one straw, one lid, one cup at a time.
Be The Change:
Now that you know about my EcoMentality, why not join me in taking responsibility for reducing our reliance on single use plastics? 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 love to hear your comments across any of our social media channels.
EcoGirl. x
#GoGreenIn2019
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.
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