Since July 2021, new EU legislation has come into effect and plastic straws have been banned. Since then, many plastic straw alternatives have become available. As a restaurant and hospitality location, you are no longer allowed to use plastic straws and are looking for a good alternative to plastic straws. In this article, we discuss some options for alternatives to plastic straws and where you can buy them.
Straw by Straw straws are available at HANOS, Sligro, and Bidfood, among others. View all points of sale and item numbers per hospitality wholesaler here.
What are straws without plastic?
Straws free of plastic. Examples include bamboo straws, reed straws, and straw straws. There are also straws from the brand #noplastic which are made of PLA. You can also think of stainless steel straws, reusable silicone straws, metal straws, and glass straws when considering straws without plastic.
Straws without plastic means that there is no plastic or plastic layer on the straw at all. So be aware that paper straws often still have a coating to keep them firm a bit longer. It's not always clear what these coatings are made of. To keep paper straws firm for longer, there might still be a mini layer of plastic on them. Otherwise, wouldn't paper or cardboard straws get soggy quite quickly?
Other examples of plastic-free straws are: straws made from avocado pits, reed straws, and straw straws. The straws made from avocado pits are made of a kind of bioplastic, for some also known as fake plastic. Straws made from avocado pits are biodegradable after 240 days.
Where to buy non-plastic straws?
Fortunately, there is a wide range available and businesses are also increasingly setting sustainable goals. As a result, you can buy plastic alternatives from almost every wholesaler. All wholesalers have stopped selling plastic straws or straws made of fake plastic. And that's good because plastic has had (and still has) a huge negative impact on the environment. Sustainable straws from Straw by Straw are available at HANOS, Bidfood, Sligro, Biofutura, and Schoonspoeler, among others. They sell sustainable straws that are completely natural. For example, think of reed straws. These are 100% naturally made from reed stems and contain no plastic or fake plastic coating. Another type of straw available at hospitality wholesalers is the straw straw. These straws are thinner and also fit well on drink packaging or in Capri Sun pouches. These natural straws are made from real plant stems and therefore remain firm in your drinks.
Straw by Straw straws are available at HANOS, Sligro, and Bidfood, among others. View all points of sale and item numbers per hospitality wholesaler here.
How much do plastic-free straws cost?
That depends on what type of straw you choose. Straw by Straw straws are available from as little as 10.49 per 500 straws! This is about the same price as cardboard straws or paper straws, but straw straws don't get soggy! Keep in mind that they are slightly thinner. Because it's a natural product, the straws come in different diameters.
Plastic alternatives for straws
Hopefully, you've gotten enough information in this article if you're looking for a sustainable alternative to plastic straws because there are many options available. Here are the plastic-free straws listed again: Bamboo straws are made from fast-growing bamboo and are both reusable and biodegradable. The advantage is that it looks beautiful in your drinks! A disadvantage might be that as a restaurant or bar, you might not have enough capacity to wash each straw.
Reed and straw straws are good options because they are biodegradable and you don't need to wash these environmentally friendly straws! They are completely natural and contain no plastic and no fake plastic. It's important to choose straws that best fit your hospitality location!
Conclusion: many alternatives to plastic are available. To make your choice easy, Straw by Straw only offers natural straws. This way, you can be sure that these straws contain no plastic and are free from plastic!
Straw by Straw straws are available at HANOS, Sligro, and Bidfood, among others. View all points of sale and item numbers per hospitality wholesaler here.
