Organic Bamboo Straws: co-Friendly Solution Save Sea Turtles
Long before people came to enjoy the white sands and emerald waters of the Emerald Coast, sea turtles came ashore to lay their eggs. Today, they share the area with approximately 500,000 people. This number is increasing rapidly as tourists flock to the area. Our actions affect the lives of sea turtles. The trash we leave behind, especially plastic, is harmful to their health.
The Harmful Impact of Plastic Waste on Sea Turtles
One thousand sea turtles die each year from digesting plastic. Plastic remains in the turtle’s stomach. And when it builds up, the brain thinks the stomach is full. In fact the turtle is not getting the nutrients it needs. After a turtle swallows at least 14 pieces of plastic, the mortality rate increases to 50%.
Plastic Straws – The Greatest Threat from Beach Litter
The plastic material that our volunteers most often find on the beach is straws.
Americans throw away 500 million straws every day. Just think about all the restaurants lining the coast where we indulge in smoothies, iced coffee, sweet tea, and cocktails. It’s no wonder so many straws make their way to our beaches and into the Gulf.
Straws end up in the water and are mistaken by sea turtles as “forever chemicals” — with extreme resistance to breaking down environmentally.
Not only do Americans throw away half a billion straws every day: lots of them also end up polluting our beautiful coastlines and threatening marine life due to their high persistence in nature after being discarded into aquatic environments.
Plastic straws have some alternatives but paper and other plant-based straws are not truly biodegradable as they contain polyfluoroalkyl substances known as forever chemicals.
These chemicals are highly resistant to breaking down in the environment. That means adverse health effects can still occur in humans even at low levels of exposure.
Organic Bamboo Straws – A Sustainable Alternative
Sea turtles are well-loved but often forgotten by people who find it challenging to lead a clean and sanitary life while on the move. A wonderful substitute to these is the “100% organic Bamboo Straws.”
Econet Green Products and Its Environmental Mission
The individual who spearheads Econet Green Products is Khuyen Bui, a resident of Walton County— an entrepreneur striving to bring bamboo straws to the masses at an affordable price and make them readily accessible along The Emerald Coast.
The Production Process of 100% Organic Bamboo Straws
These 100% organic Bamboo Straws are born in a tiny Vietnamese village, cut from vibrant bamboo stalks, meticulously cleaned, sanitized. Then lovingly encased in paper— all for single-use purposes.
Bamboo straws’ origin story now takes place far away from our local shores and into the depths of Vietnam’s verdant landscapes:
But bear in mind that every sip you take brings you closer to nature’s heart.
Plastic Waste Reduction Strategy for Restaurants
Customers will not be provided with free plastic straws (which the restaurant has to buy).
Instead, restaurant owners can buy bamboo straws at a cost of 10 cents each and sell them in their stores.
The organic bamboo straws available online are reusable and unwrapped, costing nearly $1 each— they come in higher price ranges and quantities when contrasted with those from Econet’s Bamboo Straws.
“Offer a low-cost organic bamboo straw,” Khuyen suggested. “that customers would be willing to pay for themselves — and even more, contribute towards environmental conservation.” Khuyen suggested
He proposed that restaurants could introduce the initiative by asking customers to pay nominal amounts (pennies on the dollar) for their use of plastic straws, which would help in keeping beaches free from plastic contamination.
He also suggested building community support to lower the cost of these alternative straws to under 10 cents, contingent on receiving significant local support and ensuring cooperation towards a future with reduced plastic usage.
Life Media is backing the procurement of these 100% organic bamboo straws and offering marketing incentives.
Any restaurants that purchase the Econet bamboo straws stand to receive a featured story in Life Media Newspapers— with a circulation of 60,000 —as well as recognition in a dedicated page of South Walton Life.
The promotion aims at the use of organic straws for protecting sea turtles. This will be echoed through a monthly Facebook post reaching 20,000 followers.
Get in touch
If you are interested in helping prevent plastic straws from harming our sea turtles by purchasing these 100% organic Bamboo Straws.
Please contact Econet Green Products:
at +1 850-287-3815