Say no to plastic straws, eco-friendly reusable straws are more readily available now

Photo: 123rf

The fight against single-use plastic is on the rise. Fast-food chain KFC has stopped providing plastic straws or use plastic lids for drinks at its 84 outlets here since earlier this month.

Its initiative to go green will save an estimated 17.9 tonnes of single-use plastics in a year. However, plastic lids will still be used for takeaway food. The move has earned KFC praise from environmentally-conscious Singaporeans, including Singapore Youth for Climate Action member Pamela Low. KFC is the latest business to stop using plastic disposables at its outlets after six hotels pledged to stop using single-use plastic straws, stirrers, cutlery, toiletry bottles and plastic bags on June 1. At least one foodcourt has also gone plastic straw-free, The Straits Times reported in April.

The Koufu foodcourt at Singapore Management University stopped using plastic straws and has introduced biodegradable takeaway packaging as well as reusable utensils. Koufu chief development officer David Yang said it will monitor the overall response before deciding whether to expand the initiative to its other outlets. McDonald’s told The Straits Times that it will be testing “straw alternatives” in selected countries. “We will learn from these tests around the world to develop solutions that are feasible and scalable for us in Singapore,” it said.

This article first appeared in The Straits Times.

Here are some reusable, non-plastic straws you can buy to support this eco-friendly movement:

From left: Metal straws, $7.90 from UnPackt; Glass Straws, $19.90, from Neis Haus; Bamboo straws wrap set, $11, from Bamboo Straw Girl

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