Restaurants: It’s Our Last Straw!
A story of one owner’s effort to save marine life and celebrating World Day for Water.
Humans use over 500 million single use plastic straws every day, many of which end up polluting not only our water ways, but also endangering animals that believe it to be food! By indulging in our desire to enjoy a beverage without having to put our lips on a glass, we are negatively impacting a planet that is over 70% water.
In 2015, a gruesome video surfaced depicting a Costa Rican Sea Turtle having a straw extracted from his nose by a team of marine researchers. When this graphic imagery went viral (over 19.5M views) the world of social media was shocked, myself included. A study claims that more than half of the world’s sea turtles have eaten plastic. Today is World Day for Water and we want to challenge you to #StopSucking.
One Restaurant Changing with the Tide
Ocean City Taphouse Group owner, Zev Sibony began nixing plastic last summer after witnessing its negative effect on marine life first hand. As a fishing enthusiast, he was distraught to find pollution's impact on wildlife.
I’m not a vegan or vegetarian, but it truly made me sad. I saw dolphins in my travels with plastic rings from beer cans on their noses… Then the video of the turtle surfaced. I know it’s small time, but I can only do my part and hope others do theirs as well.
First Zev tackled to-go containers by swapping Styrofoam for compostable, renewable boxes made of sugar cane. Next, as a taphouse, there is the matter of glass bottle breakage and plastic cup use, which the group is replacing with with biodegradable plastic cups this summer. The final step is straws.
People don’t use straws in their own homes. They are a luxury and give a false illusion of cleanliness. My staff will carry sterile single-wrapped straws and will only provide them on request, in an effort to limit usage. I understand that as a restaurant, bar, and cocktail bar, it’s tough to get rid of straws completely.
Luckily, his vendor also carries straws that fit his new green initiative and Ocean City Taphouse will begin providing them this summer. As alternatives get better, he will amend his practices again and continue working towards a less polluted world.
I think as time progresses people will start caring about this big rock we live on. The best advice I can give is don’t just look at the cheapest thing as most people do. Invest a little and you will get it back in the future.
So How Can We All Quit Sucking?
There are many anti-plastic straw initiatives you can participate in ranging from telling your favorite restaurant you don’t require one in your beverage, to challenging others to #StopSucking. Strawless Ocean is an incredible campaign backed by many celebrities pushing entire cities to take a step back from the single-use straw. Bacardi Rum, the Governor of Colorado, and the Mayor of Seattle are all urging more people to do the same. You can learn more from a documentary called STRAWS, take the pledge at OneLessStraw.org, or get involved through numerous other initiatives.
If you are a restaurant owner or patron who has already given up the evil plastic tube, thank you! Urge your friends to do the same and stay awesome. Pick up plastic at the beach and do your best to avoid use when not necessary. We all share this mostly liquid planet and appreciate you taking care of it.
Today is World Day for Water. Join us in celebration by doing your part to keep the world’s water clean for sea turtles, other oceanic wildlife, and humanity.
Thank you for reading. Appetite is the official blog of Appfront, the data-driven solution bringing your food to the table. A tasteful blend of Restaurant Marketing, Customer Loyalty, and Online Ordering.
